British tennis player Francesca Jones has produced a stunning comeback to secure her place in the quarter-finals of the Auckland Open, admitting to feeling immense relief after a gruelling second-round victory.
A Hard-Fought Comeback on Court
The British No. 3, ranked 72nd in the world, looked to be heading for an early exit on Wednesday when she found herself a set and a break down against Austrian qualifier Sinja Kraus. However, the 25-year-old from Leeds dug deep, rallying to claim a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win in a match lasting two hours and six minutes.
"I'm actually really relieved that's over," Jones confessed in a post-match interview with Sky Sport in New Zealand. She highlighted the challenge of backing up her first-round triumph, where she scored the biggest win of her career by defeating world No. 15 Emma Navarro.
"When you play someone like Emma in the first round and you get through that, physically and mentally, it's tough to pick yourself back up, especially in these conditions," Jones explained. "She was unplayable the first set and a half and I found it really tough to get used to playing in the day compared to the night. It's a lot quicker. I'm glad I got through that."
Next Challenge and Rising Rankings
Jones now sets up a last-eight clash with Chinese world No. 57 Wang Xinyu. This strong run in Auckland provides perfect preparation for the Australian Open, which begins in a fortnight, where she will be a main-draw entrant.
Her recent success is part of a significant rise up the WTA rankings. Jones broke into the top 100 last year, a season where she reached two WTA Tour semi-finals and won two titles at WTA 125 level. She also qualified for the main draw of the US Open in August, marking her first appearance in New York.
Triumph Over Adversity
Jones's achievements are all the more remarkable given the physical challenges she has navigated throughout her life. The athlete was born with a rare genetic condition called Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EEC). This means she has three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on her right foot, and four toes on her left foot.
Her perseverance through related physical issues, combined with her talent and determination, continues to drive her ascent in the competitive world of professional tennis. Her performance in Auckland stands as another testament to her resilience and skill on the international stage.
