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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul MacInnes at Wimbledon

Wimbledon diary: Burrage saves the day while Djokovic makes history

Jodie Burrage during her first-round tie against Lesia Tsurenko
Jodie Burrage could not beat Lesia Tsurenko in the first round but did help a stricken ballboy. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Burrage to the rescue

Day one of the Championships and we already have a strong contender for the inaugural Big Heart of Wimbledon award: Britain’s Jodie Burrage. The 23-year-old lost her first-round match with Lesia Tsurenko but more memorably went to the aid of a stricken ballboy after he suffered what appeared to be a fainting fit during the first set. Burrage, who says she has had similar experiences herself, first fed the lad some of her own energy gel, then requested sweets from the crowd. A bag of popular gummy chews were provided (without advertising brands other than the Diary’s official sponsors*, let’s just say they rhymed with Dercy Dig) and Burrage sat with the boy as he recuperated. The All England Club later confirmed: “He’s fine.”

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