Jones narrowly missed out on automatic qualification
US Open 2025
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September
Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website & app
Francesca Jones has secured her debut appearance at the US Open, triumphing over Arianne Hartono in the final qualifying round.
The 24-year-old Briton claimed a 6-2, 6-4 victory in one hour and 20 minutes. She will join fellow British players Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Sonay Kartal in the women’s singles main draw, commencing on Sunday.
Jones initiated the match by breaking serve in the opening game, capitalizing on four unforced errors from a visibly nervous Hartono. The British number four then consolidated her lead, holding twice and securing another break to surge ahead 4-0 within the first 16 minutes.
Despite an improved performance from Hartono, 29, as the set progressed – marked by 13 winners compared to Jones’s four – the Dutch player’s 13 unforced errors proved costly.
The second set remained on serve until the third game, when Jones, the top seed in the qualifying draw, rallied from a 40-15 deficit to achieve her third break of the match.
Hartono, ranked world number 187, responded immediately with a break of her own, as Jones adopted a slightly more passive approach. However, the Briton regained control of the set, breaking back once again in a back-and-forth exchange.
Jones concluded the match by winning 10 consecutive points on her serve, before celebrating with her team.
With the increased prize money, the Bradford-born world number 86 has secured $10,000 (£7,392) for reaching the first round.
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