Young Brit takes down Idol Venus Williams in a tight match

MIAMI GARDENS – Venus Williams walked out on Grandstand Court decked out in all-white, looking like the bride she was at her five-day wedding last year.

However, on this pristine Thursday afternoon, Williams was the bridesmaid. In her record 23rd Miami Open, the 45-year-old Williams lost 7-5, 7-5 to Francesca Jones of Great Britain, who was making her Miami debut.

Williams, a part-time player over the last seven years, lost to the 25-year-old Jones, who has idolized the Williams’ sisters since she was a child. Jones grew up in Weybridge, UK about 13 miles from Wimbledon, where Venus won five of her seven Grand Slam titles. At 9, Jones and family moved to Barcelona to train.

In a female version of Mutt and Jeff, the 5-foot-6 Jones even got to practice with the 6-1 Williams at the ATX Open in Austin last week.

“Obviously, with my back story when I was younger (missing a finger on each hand and three toes), I was told I wasn’t going to be able to play tennis,’’ said Jones, ranked No. 93. “Having my Dad take me to Wimbledon, I saw both Williams sisters on Center Court. I told her at the net, she’s still on my childhood wall in Barcelona, both her and Serena. It’s great for me to get this win as I’ve been struggling with my fitness.”

Jones was six months old when Williams won the last of her Miami titles in 2001.

Williams, who received a wild card, has dropped her last six first-round matches this year and eight dating back to her last win at the Citi DC Open (over Peyton Stearns ).

“She’s one of those full circle moments that you really take home with you.” Jones said.

Jones, who laughingly matched Williams’ seven Slams and 49 titles with seven ITF [lower-level] titles, had dropped her previous three first-round matches. She did reach the quarterfinals at Auckland prior to the Australian Open where she took a fall and tore a muscle that hasn’t fully healed.

“It was such a close match,’’ Williams said. “I think Fran played a little better than me when it mattered. I had a few too many errors.”

While Williams has courageously dealt with Sjogren’s Syndrome since 2011, an energy depleting disease, Jones was born with a rare genetic condition known as Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EED).

Both players are inspirations in their own right, to be playing a physically demanding sport that requires dexterity, foot speed and hand control.

“I’ve been watching her before we ever played,’’ Williams said. “She’s going to inspire so many people, so Serena and I are really happy to be part of her story.”

Up next for Jones will be American Jessica Pegula, the fifth seed and a finalist last year.

Williams, who is still in the doubles with partner Leylah Fernandez, has shown no signs of retiring and with the expectations and rumors surrounding 44-year-old Serena coming back, who knows?

From Jones’ perspective, Williams is still formidable and she got a chuckle out of Williams’ “shiny gray warmup jacket that had, “Game Changer,” on the back.

“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to play against an idol like that,’’ Jones said. “That’s exactly what Venus and Serena are. They’re game changers. They’re the reason we have such big events like this now. They brought the sport so much, and we have so much to thank them for.

“People might focus on the fact that she’s lost consecutive matches, but I think we have to recognize, she’s playing three sets against [Karolina] Muchova, who I think is one of the best players on Tour,’’ Jones said, referring to Williams’ three-set loss to then No. 11 Muchova at the US Open last September.

“She doesn’t lose her serve. You don’t lose that and it’s the vital part of the game. So, of course, her moving isn’t what it used to be, but I think there’s no reason she can’t win matches and I fully believe that she’s at a level where she can compete.”

Williams doesn’t sound as if she’s going anywhere.

“I’m excited how I’ve been competing,’’ Williams said. “It’s been really fun to play against everyone and I think they’ve been enjoying the opportunities to share the court with me.”

OTHER MATCHES

Williams is one of six American women in the draw to win the US Open, including Sloane Stephens, who in a battle of wild-card recipients, defeated fellow American Jen Brady, 6-2, 6-4.

Stephens, a South Florida native living in Fort Lauderdale, snapped a losing streak of 15 consecutive opening-round defeats, dating back to Wimbledon where she won her first-round match against Elsa Jacquemont. Stephens, once ranked No. 3 in 2016, won this tournament in 2018 and the US Open in 2017.

Aussie qualifier Talia Gibson, who went from qualifiers to the quarterfinals last week at Indian Wells while knocking off three Top 50 players and No. 7 Jasmine Paolini, continued her torrid run with a routine 6-1, 6-0 victory over Czechia’s Sara Bejlek. Gibson’s rank went from 112 to 68 after Indian Wells.

Spain’s Paula Badosa (born in New York), formerly ranked a career-high No. 2, has been plagued by back issues which caused her to pull out here last year before her fourth-round match with wild-card entrant Alexandra Eala.

Badosa, 28, now ranked No. 100, got past qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 7-5, 6-3, and will next face Californian teen and breakout star Iva Jovic in the second round.

Eala has built on her semifinal run here last year, reaching three quarterfinals and a semifinal appearance so far in 2026. She has improved her ranking to a career-high No. 29.  Thursday she picked up where she left off with a hard-fought 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory over German Laura Siegemund to kick off the first Stadium Court match of the tournament. Of course, her faithful Filipino fans ringed the court cheering for her.

Young Americans, Alycia Parks, Hailey Baptiste and Caty McNally all advanced as did doubles great Taylor Townsend.

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