‘A monumental moment’: Fran Jones defies the odds with groundbreaking French Open win
Tears of joy flowed for Fran Jones after a long-awaited first grand slam victory at the French Open.
The 25-year-old has had a torrid year, with a leg injury and concussion keeping her off the court and pushing her back outside the top 100, and she could not contain her emotions after battling from a set down to defeat former semi-finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (4) 6-2 at a sweltering Roland Garros.
A sobbing Jones rushed to the side of the court to embrace mum Adele and dad Simon, who have been her biggest supporters in her remarkable journey.
Born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia, a genetic condition that means she only has three fingers and a thumb on each hand and seven toes across both feet, Jones forged ahead with a tennis career against the odds.
And, on her seventh occasion in the opening round of a grand slam, Jones was finally able to claim victory.
“She kept believing in herself,” said a delighted Adele. “She’s had such a bad year with all the injuries and everything.
“It’s just maintaining that belief, and that’s what we were trying to say to her then at the side of the court, ‘just believe’. We don’t coach, we don’t know anything about tennis, just believe in your body, believe in yourself.
“So proud of her. Just so happy for her. She really deserves this.”
“I get told off all the time, and I will do now,” added Simon. “I always say the wrong things, but she can hear us, that’s the main thing. She’s such a fighter. She always has been.”
Jones was almost as emotional in her press conference as she was on court as she spoke about the support of her parents.
“Normally I’m one to say you shouldn’t cry until the tournament is over but I think, everything I’ve been through this year, it’s really been challenging,” she said.
“I think really tough on my parents throughout the whole concussion process and all that. They’ve been on the other side of the world.
“Obviously I can’t speak much about it (she is taking legal action after a gym accident), but it was in the US, so it’s tough for them, different time zones, calling from hospitals, and not understanding bloody American medical insurance s***e.
“So it was a real challenge, and I think they’ve just suffered with me, even from a distance. Of course, you can look at the bigger picture, but, truly, the emotion for me isn’t about the bigger picture. It’s much more about how tough this year has been.”
For much of the contest, Jones, who grew up in Yorkshire but moved to Barcelona to train at the age of nine, looked second best against Brazilian Haddad Maia.
The 29-year-old reached the last four here three years ago but has slid down the rankings to 105, three spots below Jones, and the British player worked her way back into the contest.
Jones was 2-0 and 4-2 down in the second set but began to find some momentum, putting behind her the disappointment of seeing two set points slip away serving at 6-5 to claim the tie-break. She trailed 2-0 in the deciding set as well but from there did not look back, reeling off six games in a row.
Jones also shared a long embrace at the net with Haddad Maia, who she described later as a “big sister” figure, and she will look to add to her breakthrough win in the next round against Czech Marie Bouzkova.
“I know I’m dangerous on this surface,” said Jones. “I know I’ve not been on my best form, but it gives you belief.
“If we go back to the fact that I was told I couldn’t play tennis, when you’re winning matches in the main draws of slams and beating someone that was 10 in the world, it kind of nips that in the bud a bit.
“Of course, it’s a monumental moment but, don’t get me wrong, I’ll be going after the next match. I hope I can do this more often to keep getting the message across more.”
