I’M NOT AFTER REVENGE, I WANT TO INSPIRE

Brit Jones delighted at overcoming adversity to qualify for Aussie Open

FRANCESCA JONES will head to the Australian Open this week on a mission to inspire others trying to overcome physical difficulties in pursuit of their goals. The British No 5 triumphantly qualified for her first Grand Slam event yesterday, despite having only three fingers on each hand and seven toes on her feet. The 20-year-old from Bradford has to use an extra-lightweight racket with an especially thin handle to accommodate her grip, which is affected by the rare condition ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia syndrome. This could not prevent her crushing Chinese opponent Jiajing Lu 6-0, 6-1 in her third and final qualifying round in Dubai — booking her seat on the flight onwards to Melbourne. Not only does she want to prove wrong the doctors who told her she would not compete at the highest level, but also to serve as an example of what can be achieved in the face of adversity. ‘I’d rather prove to people what you can do,’ she said. ‘I am not playing out of revenge; I am playing to have a positive impact on the people who hopefully read my story. I’d love people to take strength from it to build their own.’ Jones had just come off an emotional phone call home to her parents Simon and Adele, originally from Yorkshire but now based in Surrey. ‘All I could hear was crying.

It was quite an emotional call because obviously we’ve gone through a lot together,’ said the Keighley-born player (below), who has been largely based in Barcelona from the age of 10. She is now guaranteed a minimum firstround payday of £56,000, although qualifying ensures more than that. On the cusp of the world’s top 200, it is unthinkable that she will not be given a wildcard for this summer’s Wimbledon. Even this week, Jones has had to overcome physical issues with her hands, which had been affected by the cold during her Christmas visit home. ‘My fingers had actually split from the cold in the UK and I couldn’t hold my racket too well on my forehand side. So I had a wee mental breakdown, to be honest, before the first match.’ She also has to contend with moving around court differently from other players, due to having four toes on one foot and three on the other. ‘My challenge has been to put myself in a physical shape that prevents injuries. My feet work in a different way and that means I run differently. My balance goes through my feet in a different way. ‘But I think every human being has physical weaknesses — unless you’re Cristiano Ronaldo! I wouldn’t say I ever felt sorry for myself. Each person is dealt their set of cards.’ With the tournament delayed until February 8, Jones has two weeks’ quarantine there before discovering her Grand Slam debut opponent.

GB men’s No 3 Cam Norrie lost 6-3, 7-5 to American Seb Korda in the semi-final of the ATP Delray Beach Open in Florida.