25-year-old Francesca Jones defeated her idol, Venus Williams, 7–5, 7–5 in the first round of the Miami Open.
In both sets, they stayed level for most of the time, with strong play from both players.
When the score reached 5–5, Jones managed to break Williams’ serve, which gave her the advantage. She then held her own serve to win each set. Williams played well and kept the match competitive, but Jones was better in the important moments, which helped her win both sets.
As the match ended, Jones bowed to Williams and shouted with excitement, “I still have your poster in my room.”
She continued to say in her court interview, “I just told her, ‘I say goodnight to you and Serena every night because you’re still on the wall of my childhood bedroom’. She just laughed. We know each other well enough for me to make a couple of jokes.
“But no, there’s a lot of truth to that. I genuinely still have her on my wall, and I’m so grateful to have that chance.
“I was told I wouldn’t be able to play tennis when I was younger. At five years old, my dad took me to Wimbledon to see the Williams sisters play, and if it wasn’t for that experience, I really don’t know whether I would have pursued tennis in the way I have. They’re the reason I’m here today. To have that win against [her] means everything.”
Jones will face Jessica Pegula in the second round of the Miami Open, marking the first time the two players meet on tour. While, Venus Williams is expected to shift her focus to the women’s doubles event, where she is partnering with Leylah Fernandez. The pair previously teamed up at the US Open in 2025.
