Britain’s Fran Jones defeated her idol, seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams, in the first round of the Miami Open on Thursday.
Jones won 7-5 7-5 in straight sets against Williams and bowed to the 45-year-old great once her victory was confirmed.
Neither player was able to hold serve for the opening four games before Jones forced another decisive break to take a 6-5 lead as he closed out the first set.
Williams, who received a wild card in his 23rd appearance for Miami, regrouped and took a 2-0 lead.
The second set began, but British no. They broke twice before 4 fought back and ended the match.
Venus Williams is playing in her 23rd Miami Open and the 45-year-old received a wildcard.
Jones, 25, wasn’t yet born when Williams won the first of her two Grand Slam titles in 2000, but the British prospect playing for the first time in Miami spoke of his admiration for her and her sister Serena.
“If it wasn’t for those two women, I don’t know if I would have taken the step to play tennis,” Jones said in an on-court interview. “They are why I am here today.”
British number four Fran Jones beat her childhood idol Venus Williams in the first round of the Miami Open.
Jones, who was suffering from physical aches before the game, said this. sky sports: “I wasn’t sure if I would show up, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to face Venus.
“I thought I missed that opportunity when I was 16 or 17 years old and she stopped playing at first. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to come out here. I couldn’t stop smiling.”
“I told her I said good night to you and Serena every night because they’re on my childhood bedroom wall,” Jones said of what he said to Williams on the net after the game.
“When I was five, my father took me to Wimbledon to watch the Williams sisters play. Without that experience, I would not have pursued tennis as much as I did.”
Jones’ path doesn’t get any easier as she faces American fifth seed Jessica Pegula in the second round as compensation for her win over Williams.
UK interest in men’s doubles includes: Arthur Perry He suffered a straight loss against Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
Jacob FernleyMeanwhile, in his first round match against Martin Damm, he had to retire due to injury after losing the first set 6-0.
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Highlights from Moise Kouame and Zachary Svajda’s Miami Open match.
Elsewhere, Moise Kouame The 17-year-old French player made a name for himself on the world stage when he became the youngest winner of the Masters 1000 since Rafael Nadal in 2003.
Kouame came back from a set down to beat Zachary Svajda 5-7 6-4 6-4 and made history as the youngest player to win a tournament in Miami.
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