Britain’s Fran Jones stated it “means everything” as she defeated her childhood hero Venus Williams within the first spherical of the Miami Open.
Jones claimed a 7-5 7-5 victory over seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Williams, who – at 45-years-old – was the oldest participant within the ladies’s singles draw.
It is a primary profession WTA 1000 win for the 25-year-old, whereas it was Williams’ ninth successive defeat since a first-round win at Washington final summer season.
Meanwhile, second seed Iga Swiatek was surprised by world quantity 50 Magda Linette, who fought again from a set all the way down to win 1-6 7-5 6-3 within the second spherical.
It is the primary time in 74 tournaments that Swiatek, who acquired a first-round bye, has misplaced her opening match in a WTA Tour occasion.
The reigning Wimbledon champion has didn’t advance previous the quarter-finals in all 4 of the tournaments she has performed at in 2026.
“I stopped doing anything well tactically,” Swiatek stated after the defeat by her Polish compatriot.
“It just was a bad match for me in the second and third sets. Unconsciously, or consciously, it’s hard for me to say. I need to work to get back from that, because I haven’t felt things like that for like five years.”
