By Erik Gudris | Thursday, March 19, 2026
Photo credit: Miami Open by Itau
For Francesca Jones, it was a breakthrough win. For Venus Williams, it was yet another early exit in her singles comeback.
Current World No. 93 Jones of the United Kingdom enjoyed a 7-5, 7-5 first-round victory over the former World No. 1 Williams at the WTA 1000 Miami Open.
Jones celebrated the emotional victory, her first ever at the WTA 1000 level, by hugging the 45-year-old Williams up at net after the match. Still in shock over the win, Jones told Williams that she still has a poster of the seven-time major singles champion on her wall in her childhood home.
Williams graciously wished Jones good luck for the rest of the tournament.
Jones, who has been ranked as high as World No. 65, was born with a rare genetic condition, Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EED) syndrome. She competes on tour missing one finger on each hand and three toes, a condition that has required frequent surgeries over the years.
In her post-match interview, Jones said she was inspired by both Venus and Serena Williams to persevere in her chosen sport after seeing them play at Wimbledon when she was five years old.
Williams, a three-time champion of the event, was given a wildcard for this year’s event. Now with this loss, she’s 0-6 so far on the season. Her lone singles win when she started her comeback last year was back in Washington DC last summer over Peyton Stearns.
Both sets were tightly contested. After a back-and-forth first set, Jones earned a service break late in the set at 5-5 when Williams fired off an errant crosscourt backhand.
Jones served out the set at 7-5 when Williams misfired on another backhand.
Williams managed to get out to a 2-0 lead in the second set. However, Jones soon broke back for 2-1. Later, Williams held multiple break points on Jones’ serve and looked poised to possibly take the set and force a decider.
The 25-year-old Jones battled through and soon found herself up a break again at 6-5 when Williams sent a forehand well long. Jones eventually served out the win 7-5, 7-5.
Jones next faces No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula in the second round.