AUCKLAND — In a stunning follow-up to her headline-grabbing victory over billionaire wildcard Emma Raducanu, Britain’s Francesca Jones has stormed into the quarter-finals of the ASB Classic, defeating Viktoriya Tomova 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old from Leeds, ranked No. 245 in the world, backed up her biggest career win with a display of controlled aggression and tactical nous, dispatching the 79th-ranked Bulgarian in just 78 minutes. This marks Jones’s first WTA 250 quarter-final since Lyon in 2022 and signals a remarkable resurgence for a player whose career has been defined by overcoming adversity.
Jones, who was born with a rare genetic condition (Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia) resulting in three fingers and a thumb on each hand and three toes on each foot, has never let physical challenges define her limits. Her performance in Auckland this week, however, is redefining her potential on the sport’s biggest stages.
A Composed Performance After the Storm
If Tuesday’s dramatic three-set triumph over former US Open champion Raducanu was an emotional rollercoaster played out under a spotlight, Wednesday’s match was a masterclass in professional focus. Jones admitted to feeling the weight of expectation but channeled it perfectly. "It’s always difficult backing up a big win," Jones said in her on-court interview. "I’m really happy with how I managed my emotions and stuck to my game plan today."
The statistics told the story of her dominance. Jones won an impressive 86% of points behind her first serve and saved all three break points she faced. Her forehand, a weapon she used to great effect against Raducanu, was again a consistent source of winners, while her movement around the court belied any suggestion of physical limitation.
Tomova, a solid baseliner, had no answer to Jones’s depth and variety. After a tight opening set where Jones secured a crucial break at 4-4, the Brit raced through the second set with relentless precision, breaking Tomova’s serve three times and closing out the match with a confident hold to love.
The Road to the Quarter-Final: A Week of Firsts
Jones’s journey in Auckland this year is a narrative of breaking new ground. Coming through qualifying, she has now strung together four consecutive wins at a WTA event for the first time in her career. Her path has been both challenging and symbolic:
- Qualifying Round 1: Defeated Australian Destanee Aiava 6-3, 6-2.
- Qualifying Round 2: Overcame compatriot Yuriko Miyazaki 6-4, 6-4.
- Main Draw Round 1: Secured her career-best win, beating 2021 US Open champion and global star Emma Raducanu 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
- Main Draw Round 2: Dominated higher-ranked Viktoriya Tomova 6-4, 6-1 to reach the last eight.
This run is particularly sweet for Jones, who has endured multiple injury setbacks, including a stress fracture in her foot that sidelined her for much of 2023. "Last year was incredibly tough," she confessed in a press conference. "To start the year like this, healthy and competing well, it means everything. It validates all the hard work in the off-season."
A Daunting but Welcome Challenge Ahead
The quarter-finals present the toughest test yet for the British No. 3. She will face the tournament’s top seed and world No. 19, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. Svitolina, a former world No. 3 and Wimbledon semi-finalist, is a formidable opponent known for her defensive prowess and fighting spirit. She advanced with a straight-sets win over Caroline Wozniacki.
Jones is under no illusions about the task but is embracing the opportunity. "She’s an incredible player, a top player who has been at the top of the game for so long," Jones said of Svitolina. "It’s a great match-up for me to see where my game is at. I’ll go out there, enjoy it, and play with freedom."
The match-up is intriguing. Jones’s flat, aggressive groundstrokes will be pitted against Svitolina’s elite movement and counter-punching. A victory would not only propel Jones into her first WTA semi-final but also likely see her break into the world’s Top 200, a significant milestone.
More Than Just a Tennis Story
While the tennis has been scintillating, Jones’s story continues to resonate far beyond the baseline. Her success is a powerful testament to resilience, challenging perceptions about athletes with physical differences. Social media has been flooded with messages of support, not just from British tennis fans, but from a global audience inspired by her journey.
The WTA itself highlighted her impact, posting: "Overcoming the odds. Francesca Jones follows up her win over Raducanu with a straight-sets victory to reach the Auckland quarter-finals!" British Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong also praised Jones’s "fearless tennis and incredible heart."
Conclusion: A Star on the Rise in Auckland
Francesca Jones’s week at the ASB Classic has transformed from a promising qualifying campaign into a potential career-defining breakthrough. By backing up her seismic win over Emma Raducanu with an even more commanding performance, she has proven her victory was no fluke. She has shown the mental fortitude required to succeed at the highest level, compartmentalizing the hype and focusing on the next point, the next game, the next match.
As she prepares to face Elina Svitolina, Jones carries the momentum of an athlete in peak form and the confidence of someone who has already conquered immense challenges just to be on the court. "I’m just taking it one match at a time," she reiterated, a mantra that is serving her perfectly.
Whether her fairytale run continues or ends in the quarter-finals, Francesca Jones has already made an indelible mark in Auckland. She has reminded the tennis world of her formidable talent, provided an inspirational narrative of perseverance, and firmly re-established herself as one of the most compelling stories on the Hologic WTA Tour.