Australian Open wildcard with Olympian mom tipped | Sports News

At simply 17 years previous, Emerson Jones is already creating a buzz during Australia’s tennis season. The rising star, who attracts comparisons to fellow Aussie and three-time Grand Slam champion Ash Barty, secured one of her most vital victories at this week’s Brisbane International and is now trying to construct on that momentum on the Australian Open, the place she’s been awarded a primary draw wildcard.

The former junior world No. 1 has skilled a meteoric climb via the skilled ranks since turning professional. She started final yr ranked outdoors the world’s high 370 however has now reached a career-best No. 147 globally.

Jones seems destined to affix Australia’s elite tennis ranks, with the backing of her mom, Olympic silver medalist triathlete Loretta Harrop. It comes after an eye-watering report prize pool was confirmed for the Australian Open.

Tennis lovers will simply spot Jones when she takes heart stage on the Australian Open later this month, attempting to find her maiden Grand Slam primary draw victory, because the Gold Coast native lately graced the digital cowl of Vogue Australia, sporting Nike gear for the glamorous shoot.

The rising expertise additionally earned high reward from retired world No. 1 Barty within the magazine function. “She’s certainly exciting to watch — a joy when in full flight,” the previous Australian champion remarked. This is not the primary event Barty has showered {the teenager} with accolades.

Last yr, the previous Australian Open victor described Jones as a “very driven person”, stating: “She’s passionate, she wants to do well, she’s focused, she’s professional.” While Jones has repeatedly confronted comparisons to Barty all through her budding profession, she’s managed to shake them off.

The three-time Grand Slam winner has constantly served as a huge source of motivation for Jones, who shocked world No. 43 and defending Queen’s titleholder Tatjana Maria on the Brisbane International earlier than falling 6-4 6-1 to No. 10 seed Liudmila Samsonova.

“Yeah, always, for sure she definitely was. I think it was two years ago I had a hit for her before I went to Junior Wimbledon, and just the advice she gave me, I really took it in. Yeah, it was so special to hear that from her,” Jones revealed about her fellow Australian.

“I have had that for a while since last year, and, you know, doesn’t really put any pressure on me. Everyone compares me to Ash and all that, but Ash has her own journey, and I think she did absolutely amazing and it would be amazing to achieve what she did. But, yeah, I kind of focus on myself and, you know, I think that definitely works for me, just focus on who’s in front of me, and I definitely think that helps, yeah.”

At simply 17, it is hardly stunning that Jones has saved her ft firmly on the ground all through her budding profession. The world No.. 147 has athletics operating via her veins – her mom claimed Olympic silver in girls’s triathlon on the 2004 Games, whereas her dad Brad made his mark as an Australian Rules footballer.

Following her second victory in opposition to a top-50 opponent in Brisbane, Jones might be desperate to experience that wave into the Australian Open, the place she’s already locked in to pocket no less than £74k (A$150k) in prize money. The up-and-coming expertise additionally secured a primary draw wildcard final yr however confronted a nightmare matchup, falling to former Wimbledon champion and No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina in spherical one. She managed to bounce back by making it to the junior doubles ultimate alongside British sensation Hannah Klugman.

Speaking after her Wednesday defeat to Samsonova, the 17 yr previous mirrored: “I think it’s going to give me more confidence than anything, to be honest. Winning these matches, even if they’re first rounds, definitely give me confidence, because, you know, that was my second top-50 win of my life, and this was my second time playing a top-20 player, so definitely the experience is knowing I have played these women before and that level, I definitely think I come into the match knowing how they play, and it gives me confidence to know the level.”