"Being able to train with such a legendary player was a dream itself, but as of Thursday afternoon Jones can now say that she has also defeated one of the great legends of the game as she closed out a 7-5, 7-5 win over the 45-year-old seven-time grand slam champion in the first round of the Miami Open."
"The 25-year-old showed her mental toughness by recovering to win the final three games of both sets after trailing 4-5 on serve each time. Jones's victory has afforded her a match-up with one of the best and most in-form hard-court players in the world as she faces the fifth seed, Jessica Pegula, in the second round."
"Her young career has been ravaged by countless injuries that have kept her off the tour for significant periods and forced her to retire from countless matches. Her success in 2025 was largely down to the physical gains she made off the court, but a tearful Jones had to retire from her first round match at the Australian Open."
Francesca Jones achieved a significant career milestone by defeating Venus Williams in the first round of the Miami Open. The 25-year-old won 7-5, 7-5 against the 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion, marking her first WTA 1000 match victory and ending a four-match losing streak. Jones demonstrated mental toughness by recovering from 4-5 deficits on serve in both sets to claim the final three games of each. This victory comes after Jones began the 2026 season attempting to build on her best year in 2025, when she broke into the top 70. Despite managing ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia, a genetic condition affecting her hands and feet, Jones continues competing at the highest level.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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