Burrage surpasses expectation with run to Nottingham final

Jodie Burrage says that her remarkable run to the final of the LTA's Rothesay Open Nottingham exceeded all expectations. The 24-year-old was beaten in the first round of last week's Lexus Surbiton Trophy but has found the form of her life at WTA level in the East Midlands. Ad Burrage held off the fierce challenge of French player Alize Cornet to claim a 7-5 7-5 semi-final victory and set up a historic all-British women's singles final against Katie Boulter, an encounter that will determine who is British No.1 TennisBoulter beats Watson to reach first WTA final35 MINUTES AGO «I wasn't expecting this coming into the week, I'm not going to lie,» said Burrage, who is on the LTA's Pro Scholarship Programme.

«I'm very, very happy with my performance today.» Both sets were closely contested up to 5-5 and Burrage lost a 4-2 lead in the second. But the 24-year-old raised her level in those moments, converting six of her nine break points for 7-5 7-5 victory. «It felt like a three-setter with all the twists and turns,» said Burrage.

«When I lost the lead in the second, I told myself, 'Jodie, you're winning this in two sets' not three, I didn't have that in me. »Maybe I should tell myself that more often, but I'm happy to get through in two." With three British players making the semi-finals of a WTA tournament for the first time since 1975, Boulter beat compatriot Heather Watson 6-4 7-5 in another closely-fought contest. British No.1 Boulter and Burrage will play out the third-ever all-British WTA final and the first since Sue Barker beat Virginia Wade in San Francisco in 1977.