Fran Jones produced one of the tournament’s biggest shocks at the Miami Open, defeating her childhood idol Venus Williams 7-5 7-5 in the first round. The 25-year-old British No. 4, playing Miami for the first time, celebrated and paid tribute to the 45-year-old Williams after the straight-sets victory.
The match was tight from the start, with neither player holding serve in the first four games. Jones forced a late break to go 6-5 up and close out the opening set. Williams, who received a wild card for her 23rd Miami appearance, began the second set 2-0 ahead, but Jones fought back with two breaks of serve and then served out the win.
Jones, who admitted to struggling with illness in the build-up, said she almost did not play but did not want to miss the chance to face Venus. She spoke warmly about the impact Venus and Serena had on her career, recalling being taken to Wimbledon as a child and growing up with the sisters as role models. Her reward for the upset is a second-round meeting with American fifth seed Jessica Pegula.
British interest in the men’s draw was limited. Arthur Fery was beaten in straight sets by Stefanos Tsitsipas, losing 6-1 7-6 (7-4). Jacob Fearnley was forced to retire injured in his first-round match against Martin Damm after dropping the opening set 6-0.
A different kind of milestone was set elsewhere on the Miami courts. Seventeen-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame came from a set down to beat Zachary Svajda 5-7 6-4 6-4, becoming the youngest player to win a Masters 1000 match since Rafael Nadal in 2003. Kouame also became the youngest player ever to win a match at the Miami Open, staking his claim as a rising talent to watch during the rest of the event.