Francesca Jones’s run at the US Open concluded Thursday evening as she was defeated by American rising talent Iva Jovic in the second round. The 18-year-old Jovic secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jones, who was the final British singles player remaining in the tournament.
Jones, the last Briton in contention due to scheduling, faced Jovic on Court 17. Her performance was a stark contrast to the earlier exits of fellow Britons Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart, who lost their respective second-round matches with significantly fewer games won.
Jovic, seeded 14th, is known for a game style that absorbs pressure and counters with powerful shots. The first set saw a tight contest, with Jones breaking Jovic’s serve to level the set after an initial break by the American. The set ultimately extended to 56 minutes, with Jones demonstrating a resilient and gritty style, utilizing a variety of backhand slices, deep forehands, and occasional net rushes.
Despite Jovic’s class ultimately prevailing in the first set, Jones continued to fight in the second. She held serve multiple times when Jovic was on the verge of breaking, saving match points at one stage. However, Jovic’s strong serving in crucial moments allowed her to close out the match.
Jones’s defeat signifies the end of British singles participation in the tournament. Earlier, Cameron Norrie was defeated on the opening day by Luca van Assche. Other British players Arthur Fery and Jan Choinski also fell in the first round, both in straight sets. Qualifier Harry Wendelken was unable to advance past his seeded opponent.
However, fellow qualifiers Toby Samuel and Jacob Fearnley did reach the second round. Samuel defeated Tomas Machac in straight sets, while Fearnley advanced as a lucky loser and won his rain-delayed first-round match. Both Samuel and Fearnley were eliminated in their respective second-round matches.
All three British women in the main draw—Dart, Jones, and Boulter—reached the second round of the tournament.