Clara Burel is in new territory at the Australian Open. With a 6-4 6-2 win over Jessica Pegula, the Frenchwoman has staged one of the biggest upsets of the 2024 tournament.
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At age 22, she’s also claimed a first win over a top-10 opponent to move into an Australian Open third round for the first time in her career.
Burel achieved her milestone with an all-round accomplished performance against the favoured Pegula, who has reached the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park in each of the past three years.
“I think I played a very solid performance today. I was really focused,” said Burel, who completed her career-best win in 70 minutes. “I didn't let her come into this match. (I was), very solid, and I'm really happy about this match.”
Pegula, who withdrew from last week’s Adelaide International semifinals with illness, never quite managed to fire in a first career meeting with Burel.
With some crafty shotmaking, especially from her forehand, the Frenchwoman was a picture of calm in capitalising on the opportunities she created.
After exchanging service breaks at the start of the match, Burel seized a 38-minute first set as she converted another break of serve in the 10th game.
Pegula appeared to arrest the slide when she claimed a 2-0 lead in the second set, before Burel took six straight games to secure the biggest win of her career.
While the Frenchwoman’s composure was notable, she did admit that there were some nerves in the final game.
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“But I just tried to stay in the moment,” she added. “I knew I was 5-2 up, so if it wasn’t this game [that I won], it could be the next one. So I just tried to stay in the match and stay positive.”
A former world No.1 junior, Burel had never claimed a win in five matches against top-10 opponents, making victory over Pegula an important first. “It’s definitely my best win of my career,” she said.
It’s also a victory for French tennis, with Burel drawn to face Oceane Dodin in the third round. “That’s nice because one of us will be in the fourth round,” Burel noted.
Diane Parry, another unseeded Frenchwoman, has also advanced to the last 32 in the women’s draw, creating a pleasing sense of progress for French tennis.
“That's really nice to see women and the boys playing really well,” said Burel, who was born in the north-western French city of Rennes.
“I justDiane Parry, another unseeded Frenchwoman, has also advanced to the last 32 in the women’s draw, creating a pleasing sense of progress for French tennis.
“That's really nice to see women and the boys playing really well,” said Burel, who was born in the north-western French city of Rennes.
“I just saw that we are three [women] in the third round. It didn't happen since a few years. So it's really nice to see everyone playing well.” saw that we are three [women] in the third round. It didn't happen since a few years. So it's really nice to see everyone playing well.”
Having arrived at the Australian Open at a personal-high No.51 in the rankings, Burel has the chance to improve on third-round appearances at Roland-Garros (in 2020) and the US Open (in 2022 and 2023).
Replicating that progress at the Australian Open revives happy memories for the Frenchwoman, who was runner-up to Chinese Taipei’s Liang En-shuo in the AO 2018 girls’ final.
“When I walked on the court, I remembered when I played the semi and finals here, so it was just good memories and [I’m] always so happy to be here,” she smiled.