Just when British tennis star Jodie Burrage thought she’d seen it all on court, an unexpected twist at the Eastbourne tournament left her — and everyone watching — completely stunned.

Facing none other than reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, Burrage found herself caught up in one of those “you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it” moments.

The Net Mishap That Left Everyone Speechless

In the last-16 clash of the Wimbledon warm-up event, Burrage was pushing hard against Krejcikova.

The Czech star had taken the first set 6-4, but Burrage was fighting back in the second.

Then came the bizarre moment: with the score at 15-15, Burrage returned a forehand deep into Krejcikova’s side.

Krejcikova’s return appeared to go straight into the net — at least that’s what everyone thought.

But somehow, the ball managed to sneak through a hole in the net and bounced onto Burrage’s side of the court.

The crowd gasped. BBC’s Annabel Croft, watching in real-time, couldn’t believe her eyes:
“No way… I’m not quite sure how that went over? It’s meant to be a British net! That is extraordinary.”

A Touch of Class From the Wimbledon Champion

To the surprise and admiration of many, Krejcikova immediately stepped up to do the right thing.

After spotting the hole just beneath the net cord, she told the umpire that the point should go to Burrage — not her.

Even the umpire, Marija Cicak, had initially ruled that the ball was in play.

But Krejcikova’s honesty won the day, and Burrage was awarded the point.

Burrage’s Fightback Comes Up Just Short

The show of sportsmanship gave Burrage a boost.

She went on to claim the second set 6-4, drawing level with the world-class opponent in front of her.

Unfortunately for the British number seven, the final set slipped away from her in a tense tie-break.

Despite the loss, it was a performance to be proud of — and one that gave fans a moment they’ll never forget.

A Win, A Loss, and Hope Heading to Wimbledon

Just a day earlier, Burrage had secured her first grass court win of the season by beating Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima under tough, windy conditions.

After early exits at both the HSBC Championships and the Nottingham Open, the victory felt like a much-needed confidence booster ahead of Wimbledon.

Raducanu Also Battles It Out in Eastbourne

Meanwhile, fellow Brit Emma Raducanu was also in action, facing Australian Maya Joint for a spot in the quarter-finals.

After taking the first set, Raducanu found herself trailing 4-1 in the second, despite Joint slipping on the court an astonishing five times.

All Eyes on Wimbledon Starting June 30

With Wimbledon right around the corner — kicking off Monday, June 30 — both Burrage and Raducanu will be hoping to build momentum.

And if Eastbourne is anything to go by, British fans could be in for some drama-filled moments.