Sports

Burdette picks up wins, but not dollars

The amount of money Stanford’s Mallory Burdette left on the table by classifying herself as an amateur in this year’s U.S. Open? About $65,000 and counting. The memories of playing her way into Friday’s third-round date with former champion Maria Sharapova at Arthur Ashe Stadium? Priceless.

Burdette — a wild-card ranked 252nd in the world — dispatched Lucie Hradecka 6-2, 6-4 Wednesday. But the 21-year-old psychology major, who has a year left on her studies and was considering medical school, registered as an amateur and won’t receive any of her winnings.

“I’ve already checked the amateur box, so if I know correctly, you can’t go back once the tournament starts. So it’s done,’’ Burdette said. “I’ve only walked out on Ashe with nobody in the stadium. At the National Indoor College Tournament, they give you a little tour and we get to go out there at night.

“It’s going to be quite an experience. I’ve always looked up to Maria. I remember sitting with my coach when she won her first Wimbledon title and talking about her game and the way that she plays. I’d certainly love to play more like her. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m really looking forward to it.’’

Wednesday night, third-seeded Sharapova took out Lourdes Dominguez in a 6-0, 6-1 second-round breeze and afterward admitted not knowing a thing about Burdette until informed about her college.

“She seems like a smart girl,’’ Sharapova said. “I wish I went to Stanford. I don’t know too much, but I hope my coach does. That’s why we pay them.’’

Sharapova, who competed for Russia in the Olympics, said she expects Burdette to own the crowd support. In 2009, Sharapova was upset by crowd favorite Melanie Oudin.

“This is her first U.S. Open main draw,’’ Sharapova said. “Obviously she’s going to get a lot of home support, which is absolutely normal. Of course I’ve lived in this country since I was 7. I consider this to be my home. But I understand if the crowd does cheer for her as the underdog.’’

Burdette, an NCAA singles finalist, saved all six break points against 69th-ranked Hradecka. She will return for her senior year and had plans for medical school, but that may be delayed. “My success this summer has kind of taken me in a different path,’’ Burdette said.

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Serena Williams appeared to twist her ankle in the first set of the doubles match with her sister Venus Wednesday and needed to be looked at by a trainer. They would go on to defeat Megan Moulton and Lindsay Lee-Waters 6-4, 6-0. … The British good fortune continued hours after England’s Laura Robson upset Kim Clijsters. Andy Murray, Robson’s silver-medal-winning Olympic doubles partner in London, crushed Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 to complete the night card. … American Ryan Harrison posted an impressive 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 win over Germany’s Benjamin Becker.