Jones has three toes on his right foot, four on his left, and three fingers and a thumb on each hand. But, at 20 years old, she is willing to let her tennis and not her illness define her.
The Brit is confident, by her own example, in changing people’s perspective on what can be achieved in life. She has already broken all prejudices by qualifying for the finals of the Australian Grand Slam. In the qualifying phase, played in Dubai, she defeated the Romanian Monica Niculescu (6-3 and 6-2), the Croatian Jana Fett (7-6, 2-6 and 6-1) and the Chinese Jing Lu ( 6-0 and 6-1), starring in a beautiful story of overcoming to reach the tennis elite, even against the opinion of doctors. They told him that with only three fingers and a thumb on each hand he would not be able to play tennis.
Fran Jones is proving, however, that they were wrong. She will be one of the contenders in the Australian ‘major’.
Rafa, without Moyá. Rafael Nadal will try to beat Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record without his coach Carlos Moyá, who announced yesterday that he will not attend the Australian Open due to travel restrictions imposed by covid-19.
Massú positive for Covid. Chilean Nicolás Massú, coach of Austrian Dominic Thiem, world number three, has tested positive for coronavirus and will not travel to the Australian Open. Thiem, who reached the final last year, will receive technical instructions from his father Wolfgang. “I hope Nicolás can join us as soon as possible,” said Wolfgang. EFE / AFP
