Francesca Jones rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 on Sunday, securing her first Grand Slam match win and a place in the French Open second round. She saved two break points in the second set and dominated the final set with powerful groundstrokes.

Born with the rare ectrodactyly‑ectodermal dysplasia (EEC) syndrome, Jones plays with a customized grip. Her 2026 campaign has been marred by a torn hip muscle that forced retirement at the Australian Open and a gym accident where a 45 kg weight struck her head, causing concussion symptoms. Recovery has been slow, but daily physiotherapy has restored her mobility.

Having grown up on clay after moving from Bradford to Barcelona at age ten, Jones has always performed best on the surface. The win not only injects confidence into Britain’s dwindling women’s draw but also proves she can compete despite health setbacks. Jones now sets her sights on a significant deeper run in Paris.