Match Overview
In an unexpected turn of events during the second round of a match at Eastbourne, Jodie Burrage found herself in a puzzling situation against last year’s Wimbledon champion, Barbora Krejcikova. The incident unfolded as Burrage, who had lost the first set, enjoyed a break in the second as she celebrated what she believed was a point in her favor when Krejcikova’s forehand struck the net. However, to her surprise, the ball made its way through a hole in the net and landed on Burrage’s side, leaving her momentarily stunned as chair umpire Marija Čičak awarded the point to Krejcikova.
Controversy and Sportsmanship
Burrage expressed her disbelief, asserting that the ball had not cleared the net as per the umpire’s ruling.
“At 5-4, it was an important moment with the score at 15-15,”
she remarked.
“I was convinced it had gone through a hole in the net, and when I looked, I proved myself right.”
After Burrage questioned the ruling, Krejcikova inspected the net and confirmed that indeed a cord was broken, leading to the umpire reversing her original decision and awarding the point to Burrage.
Upon realizing the error, Krejcikova admitted her misstep in attempting the shot and graciously conceded the point to Burrage. In reflection, Burrage noted Krejcikova’s sportsmanship—
“I’m not sure I would have acted the same way in her position,”
she said. Burrage leveraged this pivotal point to win the game against Krejcikova’s serve, ultimately taking the second set and pushing the match to a decisive third.
Final Set Drama
Drama continued in the final set where Burrage faced a tight battle but fell just short, losing a tiebreak after having three chances to secure the victory. The match concluded with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3). Krejcikova, reflecting on the match, acknowledged the unusual nature of the event, stating,
“I saw something go through, and once Jodie found the hole, it was clear it should be her point.”
Looking Ahead
Earlier in the tournament, Krejcikova had also faced another British player, Harriet Dart, overcoming match points against her in a tense match that left Dart visibly emotional. Both players are looking towards Wimbledon, with Burrage having secured her first-round win against Moyuka Uchijima, setting a positive tone ahead of the prestigious event on the horizon.
