Australian Open 2026: Francesca Jones was ‘very serious’ about retiring before enjoying best season of career

In a parallel universe, Francesca Jones might now be sitting at home preparing applications for university courses.

Instead, the 25-year-old Briton is preparing for the Australian Open after a life-changing season that has pumped new energy into her tennis career.

Jones, who has a rare genetic condition which means she plays with a modified grip, has defied the odds to compete among the elite.

The world number 71 was born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EEC), leaving her with three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on her right foot and four toes on her left.

Doctors told the Yorkshire-born player to forget about playing professionally and the physical challenges have continued during her career.

After a difficult 2024 and finding herself outside the world’s top 150, Jones decided to retire if her results and ranking did not improve in the next season.

Instead, she made 2025 the best year of her career and will hope to continue that progress when she takes on Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova in her Melbourne opener on Monday.

“I was very serious [about retiring]. It was a case of going all out for one more year,” said Jones, who has received direct entry into a Grand Slam for the first time.

“If I would have been [ranked] 101, I wasn’t going to quit. But it was a feeling that I had.

“It was smaller objectives that, if I completed those, would have led to me being in the top 100.”