In a parallel universe, Francesca Jones might be sitting at home right now preparing applications for college courses.
Instead, the 25-year-old British player is preparing for the Australian Open after a life-changing season that breathed new life into her tennis career.
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Jones suffers from a rare genetic condition that means she plays with a modified grip, but she has overcome the odds to reach the elite level.
The world number 71 was born with ectodermal dysplasia of the external digits (EEC), which leaves her with three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on her right foot and four on her left foot.
The Yorkshire-born player was told by doctors to forget about the professional game and physical challenges continued throughout her career.
After a difficult 2024 and finding himself outside the top 150 in the world, Jones decided to retire if his results and rankings did not improve next season.
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Instead, she is making 2025 the best year of her career and hopes to continue that progress when she takes on Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova in her first match in Melbourne on Monday.
“I was very serious [about retiring]. It’s another year of going all out,” said Jones, who entered a major directly for the first time.
“If I were [ranked] 101. I won’t give up. But this is the feeling I have.
“These are smaller goals that if I accomplish, I can be in the top 100.”
The ultimatum paid off spectacularly.
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Jones won the most important title of her career in July – the WTA 125 event, an event below the major tour level – and then won another trophy at the same level to break into the top 100.
In August, she advanced through three rounds of qualifying as the top seed and entered the main draw of the U.S. Open for the first time.
Jones then began the year with the biggest win of her career in the rankings against stunning American world No. 15 Emma Navarro.
When asked what direction she might take if she retired, Jones said working in an industry with “quick decisions” was appealing.
She sat her financial adviser exam during the coronavirus pandemic and visited colleges at Oxford University in 2024 with Emma Raducanu.
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“I’ve always been very academic. For me, making sure I can take my brain to other places has been a big thing in my life,” Jones said.
“Tennis challenges you and stimulates you in a way that I don’t think any other sport can replicate.”
When it came time to leave touring, Jones thought she would work on a “passion project” before deciding on the next phase of her life.
“I love law and politics, but at the same time, I think it’s important not to rush into other things after tennis,” she added.
