NEW YORK — Top-seeded Briton Francesca Jones made a confident start to her US Open qualifying campaign with a straight-sets victory on Tuesday, but her success was tempered by a string of early exits for her compatriots, including the experienced Heather Watson.
Jones, the world No. 148, navigated a tricky opening encounter against Hungary’s Reka Luca Jani, ranked No. 189, securing a 6-4, 6-4 win on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. The victory keeps the 23-year-old on course to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open.
The match was a testament to Jones’s resilience and tactical discipline. She weathered a series of challenging rallies against the seasoned Jani, who is known for her crafty game. Jones’s powerful groundstrokes and aggressive returning ultimately proved the difference. "It's always a tough first round in qualies," Jones said afterward. "Reka is a great competitor who makes you work for every single point. I'm just happy to have found a way through and to get that first win under my belt."
For Jones, the journey to this point has been fraught with challenges. Born with a rare genetic condition, ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia, which meant she was born with just three fingers and three toes on each hand and foot, her career has been a continuous battle against the odds. Multiple surgeries and immense physical dedication have defined her path, making each victory on the professional tour a significant achievement.
A Day of Mixed Fortunes for Brits
While Jones advanced, the day brought disappointment for four other British hopefuls. Most notably, former British No. 1 and world No. 39 Heather Watson fell at the first hurdle. The 32-year-old Guernsey native, now ranked 184, was defeated 6-4, 6-3 by Serbia’s Olga Danilović, a former junior world No. 1 and a player with considerable talent.
Watson, a veteran of 47 Grand Slam main draws, struggled to find her rhythm against the powerful left-handed game of Danilović. The match statistics told a sobering story for Watson, who was broken five times and could only muster a 29% win rate on her second serve. The loss continues a difficult season for Watson as she works to climb back up the rankings.
The other British losses on a humid day in New York were:
- Billy Harris: The Manxman was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti.
- Charles Broom: Fell 6-3, 6-2 to experienced Australian James Duckworth.
- Amelia Rajecki: Lost 6-3, 6-2 to Germany’s Noma Noha Akugue.
The sole bright spot in the men's draw was Jan Choinski, who joined Jones in the second round after a hard-fought 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over France’s Enzo Couacaud. Choinski’s win provides a glimmer of hope for British men's tennis beyond the automatic main-draw entry of Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper.
The Long Road to the Main Draw
The US Open qualifying tournament is a grueling 128-player draw for both men and women, with players needing to win three matches in three days to earn one of just 16 coveted spots in their respective main draws. The pressure is immense, with a place in the final Grand Slam of the year and the potential for significant prize money and ranking points on the line.
For Jones, the next obstacle in her path is a formidable one: she faces Croatia’s Petra Martić, a former world No. 14 and a player with a wealth of experience at the highest level. Martić, unseeded in qualifying due to a protected ranking, presents a starkly different challenge to Jani, possessing a potent all-court game and a heavy topspin forehand.
Jones acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead but remained focused on her own game. "It's another tough match, for sure. Petra is a great player who has done incredibly well on tour. I'll have to be at my very best, but I'm just going to focus on my side of the net and trust the work I've put in."
Looking Ahead for British Tennis
The mixed results in qualifying highlight the current state of British tennis beyond its established stars. While the likes of Norrie, Draper, Katie Boulter, and Dan Evans fly the flag in the main draw, the depth beneath them is still a work in progress. The performance of players like Jones and Choinski in these high-pressure environments is crucial for their development and for building a stronger cohort of British players on the global stage.
Jones’s journey, in particular, is being watched with great interest. Her talent has never been in question, but a horrific run of injuries, including multiple foot and ankle problems, has severely limited her playing time over the past three years. Each match win is a step towards rebuilding her ranking and fulfilling the potential that saw her break into the top 150 as a teenager.
Her coach, Diego Veronelli, has been vocal about her mental fortitude. "Fran's resilience is her biggest weapon. She has been through so much more than most players will ever face. When she steps on the court, she is not just playing for points; she is playing for every obstacle she has overcome."
As the second round of qualifying gets underway, all British eyes will be on Jones and Choinski. For Jones, a win against Martić would move her to within one victory of a main draw appearance at the US Open for the first time in her career—a monumental achievement that would represent another incredible chapter in her inspiring story.
The stakes could not be higher. A place in the main draw not only offers a chance to compete against the world's best on one of tennis's biggest stages but also guarantees a minimum prize money of $81,000 (£63,000) and a significant boost in ranking points that could propel her back towards the top 100.
For Heather Watson and the others who fell on the first day, the focus will now shift to the upcoming tour events and the long climb back. But for Francesca Jones, the dream of a night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium remains vividly alive, contingent on navigating two more days of high-stakes qualifying tennis in the intense New York heat.