Emerson Jones

{{short description|Australian tennis player (born 2008)}} {{Infobox tennis biography | name = Emerson Jones | fullname = | image = Emerson Jones Eddie Herr G14s Final 2022 (1) (cropped).png | caption = Jones in 2022 | country = {{AUS}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2008|7|07|df=yes}} | birth_place = Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | plays = Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | height = | coach = Carlos Cuadrado David Taylor | turnedpro = 2023 | careerprizemoney = US$ 509,987 | singlesrecord = {{tennis record|won=88|lost=43}} | singlestitles = 0 | highestsinglesranking = No. 129 (4 May 2026) | currentsinglesranking = No. 129 (4 May 2026) | AustralianOpenresult = 1R (2025, 2026) | FrenchOpenresult = 1R (2026) | Wimbledonresult = Q3 (2025) | USOpenresult = Q3 (2025) | doublesrecord = {{tennis record|won=7|lost=10}} | doublestitles = 0 | highestdoublesranking = No. 1,005 (14 October 2024) | currentdoublesranking = No. 1,586 (16 March 2026) | AustralianOpenDoublesresult = 1R (2026) | AustralianOpenDoublesjuniorresult = F (2025) | FrenchOpenDoublesjuniorresult = SF (2024) | WimbledonDoublesjuniorresult = SF (2024) | USOpenDoublesjuniorresult = 2R (2023) | AustralianOpenMixedresult = 1R (2025) | updated = 22 March 2026 }}

'''Emerson Jones''' (born 7 July 2008) is an Australian professional tennis player. She has a career-high WTA singles ranking of No.129 achieved in May 2026 and a doubles ranking of No. 1,005 reached on 14 October 2024.

Jones reached an ITF junior combined ranking of world No. 1 on 9 September 2024, becoming the first Australian junior to reach the top spot since Jelena Dokic in 1998.<ref name=Jones />

==Early life== Jones was born and raised on the Gold Coast, Queensland, where she attended Coomera Anglican College.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O’Brien |first1=Connor |title=Kim Birrell returns to Coomera Anglican College as Fed Cup semi-final tie in Brisbane looms |url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/kim-birrell-returns-to-coomera-anglican-college-as-fed-cup-semifinal-tie-in-brisbane-looms/news-story/0ff4751dc352a5cf59a6218cbd9713ce |website=Gold Coast Bulletin |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=28 March 2019}}</ref> She began playing tennis at four years of age at the Coomera Waters Recreation Club on the Gold Coast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emerson Jones Bio - Fan Zone |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/fan-zone/australian-players/emerson-jones |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=13 December 2025}}</ref> Her mother, Loretta Harrop, is an Olympic silver medallist triathlete and her father, Brad Jones, is a former Australian Rules footballer who won the 1999 Grogan Medal in the Queensland State League,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mee |first1=Cameron |title=Close encounter has future tennis stars primed for Canberra International |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8472084/canberra-international-attracts-rising-tennis-star-emerson-jones/s/ |website=The Canberra Times |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> and narrowly missed out on a professional AFL career when he trialled with the Brisbane Bears in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brad Jones |url=https://www.aflq.com.au/brad-jones/ |website=AFL Queensland |access-date=13 November 2024 }}</ref> Her brother, Hayden, is also a prodigious tennis player ranked inside the top 10 of the ITF juniors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McGowan |first1=Marc |title=Sibling revelry: This brother-sister duo is the future of Australian tennis |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/sibling-revelry-why-this-brother-sister-duo-could-be-the-future-of-australian-tennis-20240121-p5eyz6.html |website=The Age |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=22 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mansell |first1=Jackson |last2=Rogers |first2=Leigh |title=Aussies at the Open: Jones siblings into junior singles quarterfinals |url=https://ausopen.com/articles/news/aussies-open-jones-siblings-junior-singles-quarterfinals |website=Australian Open |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=24 January 2024}}</ref>

==Junior career== Jones began playing ITF junior tournaments in August 2021 a few weeks after her 13th birthday when she was given a wildcard entry into a J5 tournament in her hometown of the Gold Coast in August 2021. She recorded several wins and reached the quarterfinals in her first ITF junior tournament.<ref name="ITF Tennis">{{cite web|url=https://www.itftennis.com/en/tournament/j5-gold-coast/aus/2021/j-g5-aus-05a-2021/draws-and-results/|title= J5 GOLD COAST |date=29 August 2021|work=ITF Tennis|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>

Jones made her junior Grand Slam debut at 13 years of age at the 2022 Australian Open when she was given a main draw wildcard and defeated Cara Korhonen 6-0 6–1 in the first round before being eliminated in the second round. In August 2022 she won her first junior ITF tournament at the JB2 Sydney event and followed it up with a second title the following week at the J2 Sydney tournament. Her 2023 season included appearance in all four junior Grand Slam tournaments as well as two J300 and one J500 titles in the United States, Korea and Japan which allowed her to rise up the rankings and claim a top 10 spot leading into 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLean |first1=Ross |title=Jones, 15, becomes youngest Aussie girl since Barty to win J500 title |url=https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/jones-15-becomes-youngest-aussie-girl-since-barty-to-win-j500-title/ |website=International Tennis Federation |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=16 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Junior ranking movers: Emerson Jones makes top-10 debut |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2023/10/16/junior-ranking-movers-emerson-jones-makes-top-10-debut |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=16 October 2023}}</ref>

She entered the 2024 season ranked inside the top 10 and started her season well by winning the J300 Traralgon tournament. The following week she entered the Australian Open as the sixth seed and reached her first junior Grand Slam final at 15 years of age.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Emerson Jones charges into Australian Open 2024 girls' singles final |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2024/01/26/emerson-jones-charges-into-australian-open-2024-girls-singles-final |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=26 January 2024}}</ref> She was defeated by Renáta Jamrichová in the final.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Aussies at the Open: Jones charges into AO 2024 girls' final |url=https://ausopen.com/articles/news/aussies-open-jones-charges-ao-2024-girls-final |website=Australian Open |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=26 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Conrad |first1=Alex |title=Rival's 'beautiful' gesture as Aussie teen's bid to end 29-year drought falls short |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/australian-open/rivals-beautiful-gesture-as-aussie-teens-bid-to-end-29year-drought-falls-short/news-story/8de1340c252ea63f4048d4ddc4645099 |website=Fox Sports |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=27 January 2024}}</ref>

On 27 May 2024, Jones reached a career-high ITF junior combined ranking of No. 2, becoming the highest ranked Australian junior since Ashleigh Barty in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Junior ranking movers: Emerson Jones rises to world No.2 |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2024/05/29/junior-ranking-movers-emerson-jones-rises-to-world-no-2 |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=29 May 2024}}</ref> She bettered her junior ranking to No. 1 at 16 years of age on 9 September 2024 and became the first Australian female to do since Jelena Dokic in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Emerson Jones rises to world No.1 in junior rankings |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/fan-zone/news/2024/09/10/emerson-jones-rises-to-world-no-1-in-junior-rankings |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=23 August 2025 |date=10 September 2024}}</ref>

At the 2024 French Open, Jones was upset in the first round by qualifier Daria Shchadneva.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Top-seeded Australian junior out in opening-round upset at Roland Garros 2024 |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2024/06/04/top-seeded-australian-junior-out-in-opening-round-upset-at-roland-garros-2024 |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=4 June 2024}}</ref>

==Professional career== ===2023–24: Professional and WTA Tour debut=== At the age of 14, Jones began her professional career when she received a wildcard into the qualifying draw of the Hobart International in January 2023, but lost in the first round to Tereza Martincová.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Aussie hopes knocked out in Hobart International qualifying |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2023/01/07/aussie-hopes-knocked-out-in-hobart-international-qualifying |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=7 January 2023}}</ref> She qualified for her first professional tournament the following month at the ITF $25,000 event in Swan Hill.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} In July 2023, she reached her first ITF final at the $15,000 event in Caloundra, but lost to third seed Melisa Ercan.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Rising stars impress at Australian Pro Tour in Caloundra |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2023/08/07/rising-stars-impress-at-australian-pro-tour-in-caloundra |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=4 June 2024 |date=7 August 2023}}</ref>

Jones began her 2024 season with a wildcard entry into the main-draw of the Canberra Tennis International, where she lost in the first round to sixth seed Wang Yafan.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} She received a wildcard entry into the qualifying draw of the Australian Open, but lost in the first round to Priscilla Hon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |title=Aussie teens record major breakthroughs in Australian Open 2024 qualifying |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2024/01/09/aussie-teens-records-major-breakthroughs-in-australian-open-2024-qualifying |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Leigh |last2=Mansell |first2=Jackson |title=Aussies at the Open: Seven advance in qualifying |url=https://ausopen.com/articles/news/aussies-open-seven-advance-qualifying |website=Australian Open |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=9 January 2024}}</ref> The following month, Jones received a wildcard entry into the main-draw of the Burnie International II, where she defeated Tina Nadine Smith in the first round before losing to fifth seed Wei Sijia in the second.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} In March 2024, she reached her second ITF final at the $35,000 event in Swan Hill, but lost to Gabriella Da Silva-Fick.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} Still only 16, Jones won her biggest title to date in November 2024, claiming the W75 NSW Perpetual Open by defeating fellow Australian teenager Taylah Preston, ranked world No. 162 at the time, in straight sets in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tennistourtalk.com/115794/emerson-jones-claims-maiden-pro-circuit-title-in-sydney|title=Emerson Jones Claims Maiden Pro Circuit Title In Sydney|publisher=tennistourtalk.com|accessdate=11 April 2026}}</ref>

===2025: First WTA win, top 300 and Grand Slam debut=== Jones started the 2025 season by entering the Canberra International and was defeated in the first round by Elsa Jacquemot in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canberra Open: Jacquemot moves into second round |url=https://www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-news/canberra-open-jacquemot-moves-into-second-round-801118.html |website=Tennis Majors |access-date=31 December 2024 |date=31 December 2024}}</ref> A week later, she was handed a wildcard entry into the Adelaide International and caused a major upset in the first round by defeating the world number 37 Wang Xinyu.<ref name="WLM Tennis">{{cite web|url=https://wlmtennis.com/emerson-jones-holds-steady-at-no-1/|title= Emerson Jones holds steady at No. 1|date=14 November 2024|work=WLM Tennis|access-date=17 November 2024}}</ref> The win marked Jones' first victory in a top-level WTA Tour event and secured her a career high top 300 ranking.<ref name=Jones>{{cite web |last1=Laughton |first1=Max |title='Next Barty'? Aussie world No.1's big upset in first top-level match ahead of Aus Open debut |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/australian-open/next-barty-aussie-world-no1s-big-upset-in-first-toplevel-match-ahead-of-aus-open-debut/news-story/21f0c72953d30e7b4f6c74640d1ad8fe |website=Fox Sports Australia |access-date=6 January 2025 |date=6 January 2025}}</ref> She lost to third seed Daria Kasatkina in the second round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4195643/kasatkina-survives-stiff-challenge-from-junior-no1-jones-in-adelaide|title=Kasatkina survives stiff challenge from junior No.1 Jones in Adelaide|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|accessdate=21 March 2026}}</ref> Aged 16, Jones made her Grand Slam tournament debut at the Australian Open, after being given a wildcard into main-draw.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eight rising Australians among Australian Open 2025 wildcard recipients |url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2024/12/13/eight-rising-australians-among-australian-open-2025-wildcard-recipients |website=Tennis Australia |access-date=22 December 2024 |date=13 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4196745/australian-open-2025s-grand-slam-debuts-lamens-jones-wei-erjavec|title=Australian Open 2025's Grand Slam debuts: Lamens, Jones, Wei, Erjavec|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> She lost in the first round to sixth seed Elena Rybakina in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open-2025-emerson-jones-elena-rybakina-results-highlights-sam-smith-comments-20250114-p5l4aj.html|title='She's only 16!': Plea after Aussie teen Emerson Jones blown away in 53-minute bloodbath|date=14 January 2025 |publisher=Nine|accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4198241/rybakina-defeats-top-junior-jones-navarro-survives-at-australian-open|title=Rybakina defeats top junior Jones; Navarro survives at Australian Open|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref>

===2026: BJK Cup debut, first WTA 1000 match win=== Jones opened her 2026 season at the Brisbane International, where she defeated Tatjana Maria,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/tennis/brisbane-international-2026-emerson-jones-defeats-tatjana-maria-first-round-australian-teenager-result-debut-20260106-p5nrws.html|title='A coming-of-age win': Aussie teen Emerson Jones stuns opponent twice her age at Brisbane International|publisher=Nine|accessdate=21 March 2026}}</ref> before losing to 10th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4429765/samsonova-withstands-opening-blitz-by-emerson-jones-to-advance-in-brisbane|title=Samsonova withstands opening blitz by Emerson Jones to advance in Brisbane|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|accessdate=21 March 2026}}</ref> Making her second main-draw appearance at the Australian Open, she lost to 17th seed Victoria Mboko in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4436626/by-the-numbers-mboko-through-to-second-round-of-australian-open|title=By the numbers: Mboko faces zero break points in clinical win against Jones|publisher=Women's Tennis Association|accessdate=21 March 2026}}</ref>

Having received a wildcard entry into the main-draw at the Miami Open in March, Jones defeated qualifier Linda Fruhvirtová to record her first WTA 1000 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/fan-zone/news/2026/03/20/gibson-cruises-into-miami-second-round|title=Miami: Gibson cruises into second round, Jones claims breakthrough win|publisher=Tennis Australia|accessdate=21 March 2026}}</ref> She lost to ninth seed Elina Svitolina in the second round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tennistonic.com/tennis-news/975087/elina-svitolina-topples-jones-in-the-2nd-round-to-battle-vs-baptiste-at-the-miami-open-highlights-miami-results/|title=Elina Svitolina topples Jones in the 2nd round to battle vs Baptiste at the Miami Open|publisher=Tennis Tonic|accessdate=21 March 2026}}</ref>

In April, Jones was drafted into the Australian team for their BJK Cup qualifier against Great Britain in Melbourne after Maya Joint pulled out due to a back injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-01/emerson-jones-australia-billie-jean-king-cup-great-britain/106519430|title=Emerson Jones named in Australia's squad for Billie Jean King Cup tie against Great Britain|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=11 April 2026}}</ref> Making her debut appearance, she defeated Katie Swan in a dead rubber match played after Australia had already lost the overall tie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/fan-zone/news/2026/04/11/billie-jean-king-cup-day-2-wrap|title=Jones shines in Billie Jean King Cup debut amid British defeat|publisher=Tennis Australia|accessdate=11 April 2026}}</ref>

Jones was given a wildcard entry to make her French Open debut in May,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/fan-zone/news/2026/05/12/jones-and-walton-awarded-roland-garros-2026-wildcards|title=Jones and Walton awarded Roland Garros 2026 wildcards|publisher=Tennis Australia|accessdate=25 May 2026}}</ref> but lost to third seed Iga Świątek in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/On_the_WTA_results_with/166864/french-open-iga-swiatek-makes-light-work-of-teenage-wildcard-in-opener-/|title=French Open: Iga Swiatek makes light work of teenage wildcard in opener|publisher=Tennis World USA|accessdate=25 May 2026}}</ref>

==ITF Circuit finals== ===Singles: 7 (4 titles, 3 runner-ups)=== {| |- valign=top | {| class="wikitable" style=font-size:90%; ! Legend |- style="background:#f88379;" | W100 tournaments (0–1) |- style="background:#addfad;" | W60/75 tournaments (3–0) |- style="background:lightblue;" | W25/35 tournaments (1–1) |- style="background:#f0f8ff;" | W15 tournaments (0–1) |} | {|class="wikitable" style=font-size:90%; !Finals by surface |- |Hard (3–2) |- |Grass (0–1) |- |Carpet (1–0) |} |} {|class="sortable wikitable" !Result !class="unsortable"|W–L !{{ns}}Date{{ns}} !Tournament !Tier !Surface !Opponent !class="unsortable"|Score |- | style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 0–1 | Jul 2023 | style="background:#f0f8ff;"|ITF Caloundra, Australia | style="background:#f0f8ff;"|W15 | Hard | {{flagicon|AUS}} Melisa Ercan | 3–6, 0–6 |- | style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 0–2 | Mar 2024 | style="background:lightblue;"|ITF Swan Hill, Australia | style="background:lightblue;"|W35 | Grass | {{flagicon|AUS}} Gabriella Da Silva-Fick | 6–3, 3–6, 1–6 |- | style="background:#98FB98;"|Win | 1–2 | Oct 2024 | style="background:#addfad;"|2024 NSW Open, Australia | style="background:#addfad;"|W75 | Hard | {{flagicon|AUS}} Taylah Preston | 6–4, 7–6(3) |- | style="background:#98FB98;"|Win | 2–2 | May 2025 | style="background:lightblue;"|Fukuoka International Women's Cup, Japan | style="background:lightblue;"|W35 | Carpet | {{flagicon|JPN}} Himeno Sakatsume | 7–6(4), 6–4 |- | style="background:#98FB98;"|Win |3–2 | Nov 2025 | style="background:#addfad;"|Playford International, Australia | style="background:#addfad;"|W75 |Hard |{{flagicon|AUS}} Maddison Inglis |6–4, 6–4 |- | style="background:#98FB98;"|Win |4–2 | Feb 2026 | style="background:#addfad;"|Queensland International, Australia | style="background:#addfad;"|W75 |Hard |{{flagicon|CHN}} Zhu Lin |6–4, 7–5 |- | style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 4–3 | May 2026 | style="background:#f88379;"|Kangaroo Cup, Japan | style="background:#f88379;"|W100 | Hard | {{flagicon|THA}} Mananchaya Sawangkaew | 6–7(2), 3–6 |}

==Junior Grand Slam finals==

===Singles: 2 (2 runner-ups)=== {|class="sortable wikitable" !Result !Year !Tournament !Surface !Opponent !Score |- |style=background:#ffa07a|Loss |2024 |style="background:#ffc;"|Australian Open |Hard |{{flagicon|SVK}} Renáta Jamrichová |4–6, 1–6 |- |style=background:#ffa07a|Loss |2024 |style="background:#ccffcc;"|Wimbledon |Grass |{{flagicon|SVK}} Renáta Jamrichová |3–6, 4–6 |}

===Doubles: 1 (runner-up)=== {| class="sortable wikitable" !Result !Year !Tournament !Surface !Partner !Opponents !class="unsortable"|Score |- |style=background:#ffa07a|Loss |2025 |style="background:#ffc;"|Australian Open |Hard |{{flagicon|GBR}} Hannah Klugman |{{flagicon|USA}} Annika Penickova {{flagicon|USA}} Kristina Penickova |4-6, 2-6 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{sports links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Emerson}} Category:2008 births Category:Living people Category:Australian female tennis players Category:Sportswomen from Queensland Category:Tennis players from the Gold Coast, Queensland