Burrage caps historic day for British women’s tennis at Nottingham Open

Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage helped create history as four British women are in the quarter-finals of a WTA Tour event for the first time after their progression at the Nottingham Open.

Boulter, who is Britain’s No 1, battled past the Ukrainian lucky loser Daria Snigur 7-5, 6-3, while Dart enjoyed a fine 6-0, 7-5 victory over the fifth seed and world No 25 Anhelina Kalinina.

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Burrage’s victory was the most impressive as she beat the world No 21 and Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3 in one of the best victories of her career. All three join Heather Watson in the last eight. “I am feeling really good, I have won a few matches in the WTA but never got to the quarter-finals, so it feels really good to tick that off,” Burrage said. “But there is still a lot left to go in the week and we’ll see what happens.

“When we are all doing well it really pushes everyone on, it is a bit daunting going on after the other two [Boulter and Dart] won, it was a little bit of pressure, but in the same breath it did help as well, but when you’re out on court you’re just wanting to win.”

Boulter and Dart will now play each other to ensure there will be at least one British player in the semi-finals on Saturday.

It is also the best home performance at Nottingham in the tournament’s current format. All three players will have realistic ambitions of following in Johanna Konta’s footsteps and winning it, as the now-retired former British No 1 did two years ago.