Melbourne, Jan 19 (.) An emotional Francesca Jones vowed to pick herself up after the British number three saw injury wreck her chances of a first main-draw win at the Australian Open.
Jones was left sobbing on court after struggling with a glute problem from the early stages of her first-round match against Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova. The distraught 25-year-old tried to continue but ultimately quit when trailing 6-2 3-2, according to BBC Sport.
The world number 71 has a rare genetic condition which means she plays with a modified grip, defying the doctors who said she would never play professionally.
“If I was someone that didn’t know how to pick myself up quickly, I’d have no capacity to be where
I am right now,” Jones said.
A groin injury had forced Jones out of a match at last week’s Auckland International, but it was a glute problem that led to her retirement against Klimovicova.
Jones was born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EEC) and has three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on her right foot and four toes on her left.
After a difficult 2024 where she found herself outside the world’s top 150, Jones planned to retire in 2025 if her ranking did not improve.
Instead, she enjoyed a life-changing season that pumped new energy into her tennis career.
Jones had received direct entry into the Australian Open main draw for the first time, but this marked a sad exit to what had been a proud moment.
There was a sombre atmosphere on the court as Jones sobbed loudly while receiving treatment in
the third set.
The crowd applauded her sympathetically as Jones limped off with a towel covering her head.
It is the 16th time she has retired from a match since the start of the 2023 season.
“I don’t relate to any of the retirements directly to what could be referred to as ‘kid with a syndrome’,” Jones said.
“What I relate it to is that I don’t think I had a team in place and the expertise that I needed from
a younger age.
“So my age might say 25, but my physical journey, I’m still quite early in.”
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