Burrage reaches round two at Linz Open
Written by I Dig SportsBritish number two Jodie Burrage overcame a shaky start to reach the second round of the Linz Open.
The world number 102, who came through qualifying in Austria, lost her opening service game of the match.
But she regrouped superbly to beat French seventh seed and world number 46 Varvara Gracheva 6-4 6-0.
The 24-year-old, who is in the main draw in Linz for the first time, joins British number one Katie Boulter in the next round.
It was a fifth career victory over a top-50 opponent for Burrage who will face either Jaqueline Cristian of Romania or Argentina's Nadia Podoroska in the next round.
After being 3-2 behind in the first set, she rattled off 10 of the next 11 games as Gracheva committed a string of unforced errors.
"Qualifying really helped me to get a feel for the court and I tried to use that to my advantage," said Burrage.
"I played a really good match. She is a great player and I had to hit her off the court.
"I've not been feeling amazing so I am pleased to get through and I am taking it one match at a time."