Fran Jones forced Marie Bouzkova to a second-set tiebreak but ultimately lost 6-0 7-6 (3) to exit the French Open in the second round. The Briton, who had claimed a groundbreaking first-round win over Beatriz Haddad Maia, could not complete her comeback against the 27th seed.
Emotional Rollercoaster
Jones was visibly emotional after securing her first Grand Slam main draw victory on Sunday. Like her close friend Emma Raducanu, who suffered a first-round defeat on the same court, Jones recovered admirably from losing 10 of the first 11 games. However, she fell short in the second set tie-break.
The defeat leaves Katie Boulter as the last British singles player remaining. Boulter faces Anastasia Potapova in the second round on Thursday.
Overcoming Adversity
Jones's tears after her first-round win stemmed partly from her challenges with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia, a genetic condition that leaves her with only three fingers and a thumb on each hand and seven toes. But they also reflected a tough season marked by a gluteal injury at the Australian Open and a concussion from a freak gym accident.
Having started the year ranked 72, Jones dropped outside the top 100 due to these setbacks.
Match Details
Jones was outplayed by Czech player Bouzkova for a set and a half but began troubling her opponent with heavy forehands, clawing back from 4-1 to 4-4. She won four consecutive games but twice missed chances to serve out the set. Bouzkova then took six straight points to win the tie-break and the match.
Despite the loss, Jones's first-round win should lift her ranking back into double figures. She will aim to maintain momentum on grass courts.
