Mallory Burdette Savors Her Moment

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Mallory Burdette Savors Her Moment

By Blair Henley

(August 29, 2012) -- Imagine making nearly $100,000 dollars in prize money in less than two months.

Then imagine turning it down.

This summer, college tennis standout Mallory Burdette has done just that. In committing to play her senior season at Stanford, she’s prohibited from collecting her prize money mother lode after a stunning breakout performance on the pro tour.

“I’ve already left a lot of money on the table,” said Burdette of keeping her amateur status. “But I’m definitely planning on coming back for my senior year.”

Burdette would have been guaranteed $65,000 after her routine win over Lucie Hradecka today in the U.S. Open second round, but a primetime showdown against Maria Sharapova will likely serve as a memorable consolation prize. The two will meet in the third round assuming Sharapova survives her second round match against Lourdes Dominguez Lino.

“It's going to be quite an experience,” she said of the possibility of playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I've always looked up to Maria. I remember sitting with my coach, Nick [Saviano], when she won her first Wimbledon title and talking about her game and the way that she plays.”

Burdette, who has made three appearances in the U.S. Open doubles draw, figured she might play doubles on the pro tour after college. She wasn’t so sure about her singles future.

“I thought that I would play doubles at some point, but no, I never thought I would have this type of success in singles, honestly.”

Burdette assumed she lost her opportunity for a U.S. Open singles wildcard when she fell to teammate Nicole Gibbs in the NCAA tournament final (the winner gets an automatic U.S. Open bid). Though she knew the top American performer on the summer USTA Pro Circuit would also receive a coveted wildcard, she wasn’t expecting to go from unranked to Arthur Ashe Stadium over the course of her seven-week stint in the pros.

“I kind of thought I missed my chance at the NCAA’s when I lost in the finals,” she said. “[The other wildcard] wasn’t even on my radar. So it’s been a crazy ride.”

That “ride” included two USTA Pro Circuit wins - one at the $10,000 level and one at the $100,000 level. She also took out 75th-ranked Anne Keothavong and had set points against No. 11 Marion Bartoli at the Stanford WTA event.

The Georgia native admits she considered turning pro after high school, but even with her recent success, she hasn’t regretted her choice to study psychology at Stanford instead.

“It's just been a very valuable experience; something that I think has definitely prepared me for playing pro tennis. I have learned how to handle a variety of different situations and how to manage my tennis along with schooling, along with, you know, being a captain on the team and things like that.”

For now, Burdette is enjoying a surreal experience she certainly didn’t see coming.

“To end up here at the US Open was a huge surprise. I never expected that at the beginning of the summer.”

(Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik)