Burrage is glad she kept going after earning a shot at Gauff

JODIE BURRAGE will take a "free swing" and aim to "do some damage" against Coco Gauff after her emotional first win at the Australian Open. And the British No.7 said: "It was a good decision not to retire."

- Neil McLeman

Burrage, 25, considered quitting last year after suffering wrist and ankle ligament injuries.

But back playing her first Grand Slam for 12 months on a protected ranking, Burrage, left, held her nerve to beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-2 6-4 - and then broke down in "happy tears" on Court 13.

The British fans roared their appreciation before Burrage, who faces American Coco Gauff in round two, added: "I'm going to go out there and have a free swing and try to do some damage."

Burrage returned to her chair and spent a few moments sobbing under a towel.

"It was definitely one of the best wins of my career, and the emotion that came out after showed that," she said.

"There was a lot of hard work that went into today.