British no. 5 and Wimbledon wildcard Jodie Burrage endured a tough afternoon against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, losing in straight sets 2-6, 3-6. But the Briton’s on-court intervention helped revive a wobbling ball-boy. The 23-year-old was on hand to offer glucose relief to the young lad, almost on the verge of fainting. Burrage was midway through a pasting at Tsurenko’s hands when the boy appeared to get weak in the knees. Stopping the match, Jodie would rush to him with Percy Pig sweets, Gatorade and an energy bar.

Glaswegians Val Shand and Laura Middleton were among the smattering of spectators in Court 18. Speaking to PA News Agency, Ms Shand was effusive in his praise for Burrage:

“He was either too hot or he hadn’t had enough to eat, he just looked like he needed sugar or water. He wobbled. Jodie Burrage was really sweet, she went and got him water and sweets. She gave him a blue Gatorade and some sort of energy bar. She was really good, really nice to him. He sat for a while looking like he was about to pass out. If I was his mum I would have been over there, but fortunately for him I wasn’t. I felt for him.”

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Ms Middleton added:

“He was wilting and his glasses were off as well. The game just stopped. It was at the end of a point and he sort of just crumbled. Tsurenko handed over some sweets or gummies for him to eat as well. It seemed a little while before somebody came to get him. It felt like longer because we were distressed for him because it didn’t look like he was going to get back on his feet without help,” quotes PA.

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The 141st-ranked Burrage secured a wildcard on the back of an encouraging grasscourt season, reaching the quarters at Eastbourne following a finals appearance at Ilkley. However, the higher-ranked Ukrainian proved to be a challenge too far in her home Grand Slam.