Tomljanovic owns the Joint amid Aussie Paris hat-trick
As if stung by all the hoopla over the country's newest tennis star Maya Joint, the evergreen Ajla Tomljanovic got "angry" and reminded Australia of her own enduring quality as she handed a lesson to her teenage pal at the French Open.
On a day when Alexei Popyrin ended his Roland Garros drought and Daria Kasatkina savoured her first grand slam win under the Australian flag, the sight of three of the green-and-gold brigade powering into the second round even before Alex de Minaur makes his bow on Tuesday quite atoned for the miserable opening-day wipe-out.
With nine in action on a manic Monday in Paris, there were inevitably casualties littered around the Aussies' perennial red tennis graveyard with Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O'Connell, Daria Saville, Kim Birrell and a battered Jordan Thompson all succumbing.
But Tomljanovic, who at 32 looked as sharp as she's ever done, bucked the trend in outplaying the new teenage Morocco Open champion Joint 6-1 6-3.
The 19-year-old Queenslander, who had a whirlwind 72 hours while winning her first two WTA titles in singles and doubles in Morocco, beat Tomljanovic three days earlier in Rabat, when the former Australian No.1 pulled out when a set down to protect an abdominal concern.
But the three-time grand slam quarter-finalist emerged a completely different proposition on Monday, switching to all-out attack against the French Open debutant on the faster Paris clay.
Asked if she had a point to prove, Tomljanovic explained: "My coach kind of gave me a really good pep talk - 'You've got to get angry, get determined' - and it really worked today.
"Maya had been playing so well, I had a few days to think about it and knew if I don't come out this way on the attack, it's going to be really tough. It's just nice to see everything pay off when I play the right way."
The victory sets up Tomljanovic with a glamour tie against fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, the little Italian who's become a big favourite with the locals since reaching the final last year.
Kastakina, playing her first slam since switching allegiance from Russia in March, had to work hard to subdue the world's top doubles player, Czech Katerina Siniakova, 6-1 3-6 6-2.
"To play my first grand slam under the Australian flag, it's big honour. Yeah, just feel super happy and proud to also win the first match," said the former semi-finalist.
Earlier, Popyrin ended his nightmare sequence at Roland Garros for his first opening-round win there in six years as he was in command against Yoshihito Nishioka until the doughty Japanese had to retire with an injured back while trailing 7-5 6-4 1-2.
After Sunday's first-day wipe-out with all three Australians exiting, Popyrin reckoned it was a "nice feeling" to break the duck for the 16-strong green-and-gold contingent, the biggest at Roland Garros for 35 years.
"I feel like my game is starting to come back to me, the results are starting to show a bit more, there's more consistency and match wins every week. That's really important," said the 25th seed, who tackles another left-hander, Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, next.
Thompson bemoaned another blip in a "brutal season" during which he's suffered a ruptured plantar fascia in his foot, a torn oblique and a groin injury as he was hammered 6-4 6-2 6-1 by rising Czech Jiri Lehecka.
"The only positive from today is the body got through unscathed, but I guess that's because I copped a whipping," lamented the 31-year-old.
Seeded opponents proved too much for O'Connell, beaten 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3) by the No.22 Ugo Humbert, Vukic, defeated 6-4 6-4 6-4 by No.24 Karen Khachanov, and qualifier Saville, who was outclassed 6-2 6-1 by Australian Open champ Madison Keys.
Gold Coast's Birrell also found the in-form Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, beaten by Joint in the Rabat final, in a different league in a 6-1 6-0 hammering.
Thompson also revealed Nick Kyrgios had been left "down" by having to withdraw from his planned return with his mate in the men's doubles, ending the prospect of the former Wimbledon finalist's first competitive Roland Garros outing for eight years.
As if stung by all the hoopla over the country's newest tennis star Maya Joint, the evergreen Ajla Tomljanovic got "angry" and reminded Australia of her own enduring quality as she handed a lesson to her teenage pal at the French Open.
On a day when Alexei Popyrin ended his Roland Garros drought and Daria Kasatkina savoured her first grand slam win under the Australian flag, the sight of three of the green-and-gold brigade powering into the second round even before Alex de Minaur makes his bow on Tuesday quite atoned for the miserable opening-day wipe-out.
With nine in action on a manic Monday in Paris, there were inevitably casualties littered around the Aussies' perennial red tennis graveyard with Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O'Connell, Daria Saville, Kim Birrell and a battered Jordan Thompson all succumbing.
But Tomljanovic, who at 32 looked as sharp as she's ever done, bucked the trend in outplaying the new teenage Morocco Open champion Joint 6-1 6-3.
The 19-year-old Queenslander, who had a whirlwind 72 hours while winning her first two WTA titles in singles and doubles in Morocco, beat Tomljanovic three days earlier in Rabat, when the former Australian No.1 pulled out when a set down to protect an abdominal concern.
But the three-time grand slam quarter-finalist emerged a completely different proposition on Monday, switching to all-out attack against the French Open debutant on the faster Paris clay.
Asked if she had a point to prove, Tomljanovic explained: "My coach kind of gave me a really good pep talk - 'You've got to get angry, get determined' - and it really worked today.
"Maya had been playing so well, I had a few days to think about it and knew if I don't come out this way on the attack, it's going to be really tough. It's just nice to see everything pay off when I play the right way."
The victory sets up Tomljanovic with a glamour tie against fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, the little Italian who's become a big favourite with the locals since reaching the final last year.
Kastakina, playing her first slam since switching allegiance from Russia in March, had to work hard to subdue the world's top doubles player, Czech Katerina Siniakova, 6-1 3-6 6-2.
"To play my first grand slam under the Australian flag, it's big honour. Yeah, just feel super happy and proud to also win the first match," said the former semi-finalist.
Earlier, Popyrin ended his nightmare sequence at Roland Garros for his first opening-round win there in six years as he was in command against Yoshihito Nishioka until the doughty Japanese had to retire with an injured back while trailing 7-5 6-4 1-2.
After Sunday's first-day wipe-out with all three Australians exiting, Popyrin reckoned it was a "nice feeling" to break the duck for the 16-strong green-and-gold contingent, the biggest at Roland Garros for 35 years.
"I feel like my game is starting to come back to me, the results are starting to show a bit more, there's more consistency and match wins every week. That's really important," said the 25th seed, who tackles another left-hander, Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, next.
Thompson bemoaned another blip in a "brutal season" during which he's suffered a ruptured plantar fascia in his foot, a torn oblique and a groin injury as he was hammered 6-4 6-2 6-1 by rising Czech Jiri Lehecka.
"The only positive from today is the body got through unscathed, but I guess that's because I copped a whipping," lamented the 31-year-old.
Seeded opponents proved too much for O'Connell, beaten 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3) by the No.22 Ugo Humbert, Vukic, defeated 6-4 6-4 6-4 by No.24 Karen Khachanov, and qualifier Saville, who was outclassed 6-2 6-1 by Australian Open champ Madison Keys.
Gold Coast's Birrell also found the in-form Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, beaten by Joint in the Rabat final, in a different league in a 6-1 6-0 hammering.
Thompson also revealed Nick Kyrgios had been left "down" by having to withdraw from his planned return with his mate in the men's doubles, ending the prospect of the former Wimbledon finalist's first competitive Roland Garros outing for eight years.
As if stung by all the hoopla over the country's newest tennis star Maya Joint, the evergreen Ajla Tomljanovic got "angry" and reminded Australia of her own enduring quality as she handed a lesson to her teenage pal at the French Open.
On a day when Alexei Popyrin ended his Roland Garros drought and Daria Kasatkina savoured her first grand slam win under the Australian flag, the sight of three of the green-and-gold brigade powering into the second round even before Alex de Minaur makes his bow on Tuesday quite atoned for the miserable opening-day wipe-out.
With nine in action on a manic Monday in Paris, there were inevitably casualties littered around the Aussies' perennial red tennis graveyard with Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O'Connell, Daria Saville, Kim Birrell and a battered Jordan Thompson all succumbing.
But Tomljanovic, who at 32 looked as sharp as she's ever done, bucked the trend in outplaying the new teenage Morocco Open champion Joint 6-1 6-3.
The 19-year-old Queenslander, who had a whirlwind 72 hours while winning her first two WTA titles in singles and doubles in Morocco, beat Tomljanovic three days earlier in Rabat, when the former Australian No.1 pulled out when a set down to protect an abdominal concern.
But the three-time grand slam quarter-finalist emerged a completely different proposition on Monday, switching to all-out attack against the French Open debutant on the faster Paris clay.
Asked if she had a point to prove, Tomljanovic explained: "My coach kind of gave me a really good pep talk - 'You've got to get angry, get determined' - and it really worked today.
"Maya had been playing so well, I had a few days to think about it and knew if I don't come out this way on the attack, it's going to be really tough. It's just nice to see everything pay off when I play the right way."
The victory sets up Tomljanovic with a glamour tie against fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, the little Italian who's become a big favourite with the locals since reaching the final last year.
Kastakina, playing her first slam since switching allegiance from Russia in March, had to work hard to subdue the world's top doubles player, Czech Katerina Siniakova, 6-1 3-6 6-2.
"To play my first grand slam under the Australian flag, it's big honour. Yeah, just feel super happy and proud to also win the first match," said the former semi-finalist.
Earlier, Popyrin ended his nightmare sequence at Roland Garros for his first opening-round win there in six years as he was in command against Yoshihito Nishioka until the doughty Japanese had to retire with an injured back while trailing 7-5 6-4 1-2.
After Sunday's first-day wipe-out with all three Australians exiting, Popyrin reckoned it was a "nice feeling" to break the duck for the 16-strong green-and-gold contingent, the biggest at Roland Garros for 35 years.
"I feel like my game is starting to come back to me, the results are starting to show a bit more, there's more consistency and match wins every week. That's really important," said the 25th seed, who tackles another left-hander, Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, next.
Thompson bemoaned another blip in a "brutal season" during which he's suffered a ruptured plantar fascia in his foot, a torn oblique and a groin injury as he was hammered 6-4 6-2 6-1 by rising Czech Jiri Lehecka.
"The only positive from today is the body got through unscathed, but I guess that's because I copped a whipping," lamented the 31-year-old.
Seeded opponents proved too much for O'Connell, beaten 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3) by the No.22 Ugo Humbert, Vukic, defeated 6-4 6-4 6-4 by No.24 Karen Khachanov, and qualifier Saville, who was outclassed 6-2 6-1 by Australian Open champ Madison Keys.
Gold Coast's Birrell also found the in-form Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, beaten by Joint in the Rabat final, in a different league in a 6-1 6-0 hammering.
Thompson also revealed Nick Kyrgios had been left "down" by having to withdraw from his planned return with his mate in the men's doubles, ending the prospect of the former Wimbledon finalist's first competitive Roland Garros outing for eight years.
As if stung by all the hoopla over the country's newest tennis star Maya Joint, the evergreen Ajla Tomljanovic got "angry" and reminded Australia of her own enduring quality as she handed a lesson to her teenage pal at the French Open.
On a day when Alexei Popyrin ended his Roland Garros drought and Daria Kasatkina savoured her first grand slam win under the Australian flag, the sight of three of the green-and-gold brigade powering into the second round even before Alex de Minaur makes his bow on Tuesday quite atoned for the miserable opening-day wipe-out.
With nine in action on a manic Monday in Paris, there were inevitably casualties littered around the Aussies' perennial red tennis graveyard with Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O'Connell, Daria Saville, Kim Birrell and a battered Jordan Thompson all succumbing.
But Tomljanovic, who at 32 looked as sharp as she's ever done, bucked the trend in outplaying the new teenage Morocco Open champion Joint 6-1 6-3.
The 19-year-old Queenslander, who had a whirlwind 72 hours while winning her first two WTA titles in singles and doubles in Morocco, beat Tomljanovic three days earlier in Rabat, when the former Australian No.1 pulled out when a set down to protect an abdominal concern.
But the three-time grand slam quarter-finalist emerged a completely different proposition on Monday, switching to all-out attack against the French Open debutant on the faster Paris clay.
Asked if she had a point to prove, Tomljanovic explained: "My coach kind of gave me a really good pep talk - 'You've got to get angry, get determined' - and it really worked today.
"Maya had been playing so well, I had a few days to think about it and knew if I don't come out this way on the attack, it's going to be really tough. It's just nice to see everything pay off when I play the right way."
The victory sets up Tomljanovic with a glamour tie against fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, the little Italian who's become a big favourite with the locals since reaching the final last year.
Kastakina, playing her first slam since switching allegiance from Russia in March, had to work hard to subdue the world's top doubles player, Czech Katerina Siniakova, 6-1 3-6 6-2.
"To play my first grand slam under the Australian flag, it's big honour. Yeah, just feel super happy and proud to also win the first match," said the former semi-finalist.
Earlier, Popyrin ended his nightmare sequence at Roland Garros for his first opening-round win there in six years as he was in command against Yoshihito Nishioka until the doughty Japanese had to retire with an injured back while trailing 7-5 6-4 1-2.
After Sunday's first-day wipe-out with all three Australians exiting, Popyrin reckoned it was a "nice feeling" to break the duck for the 16-strong green-and-gold contingent, the biggest at Roland Garros for 35 years.
"I feel like my game is starting to come back to me, the results are starting to show a bit more, there's more consistency and match wins every week. That's really important," said the 25th seed, who tackles another left-hander, Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, next.
Thompson bemoaned another blip in a "brutal season" during which he's suffered a ruptured plantar fascia in his foot, a torn oblique and a groin injury as he was hammered 6-4 6-2 6-1 by rising Czech Jiri Lehecka.
"The only positive from today is the body got through unscathed, but I guess that's because I copped a whipping," lamented the 31-year-old.
Seeded opponents proved too much for O'Connell, beaten 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3) by the No.22 Ugo Humbert, Vukic, defeated 6-4 6-4 6-4 by No.24 Karen Khachanov, and qualifier Saville, who was outclassed 6-2 6-1 by Australian Open champ Madison Keys.
Gold Coast's Birrell also found the in-form Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, beaten by Joint in the Rabat final, in a different league in a 6-1 6-0 hammering.
Thompson also revealed Nick Kyrgios had been left "down" by having to withdraw from his planned return with his mate in the men's doubles, ending the prospect of the former Wimbledon finalist's first competitive Roland Garros outing for eight years.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Perfectly imperfect: Unlikely hero takes Socceroos to brink of another World Cup
In the fair dinkum department, however, you can start booking your tickets to North America because the Socceroos have a goal difference buffer of +10 over Saudi Arabia, the team they'll face in next week's final World Cup qualifier in Jeddah, and there's no universe in which that gets erased and Australia loses second spot in Group C. So rejoice – and prepare to rejoice again on Wednesday morning (AEST). In the meantime, Aziz Behich, please step forward and take your place in the pantheon of Australian heroes – right next to John Aloisi, Josh Kennedy and Andrew Redmayne, other Socceroo icons who have emerged from troubled times as qualification heroes. Though the rest of the match will be quickly forgotten, Behich's 90th-minute goal will be forever remembered. It came from nowhere: an inboard pass from the right from Jason Geria to fellow substitute Riley McGree, who turned beautifully and broke into space in Australia's penalty area. But his touch seemed too heavy, and the ball seemed destined to roll out for a goal kick. So he chased it, and cut the ball back to the penalty spot, picking out … well, nobody initially, but Behich went after it, beat a Japanese defender to it, and curled it in with his right foot. 'It was just about getting myself in a position into the box,' Behich said post-match. Loading 'One thing that the boss said at half-time was, we've still got to work hard, it'll be tough to break down, but we'll get our opportunity if we stick to our structure and get numbers into the box - and we'll get one opportunity, and we'll take it. 'I just tried to get myself into that back post area, and as soon as it sat and came off my foot, I felt I hit it pretty nicely. I actually didn't see the ball hit the net, I just saw the crowd erupt and players start running everywhere, and that's when I looked at the goal and was like – let's go. It's a beautiful moment. I'm grateful that I was the one to hit the back of the net, but the boys out there tonight had to work so hard.' Behich is one of Australia's most underappreciated players. He has spent most of his career trying to escape the memory of the 2010 A-League grand final, when he missed an open goal that could have won it for Melbourne Victory. Capped 80 times for the Socceroos, he is hardly the kind of guy who sells tickets or customised jerseys, and for a few years now, it's as if a good section of fans have been waiting for Jordan Bos or someone else to take his spot on the left side of defence so he can be forgotten. But Behich, 34, has a surplus of ticker, which is why teammates and coaches love him, why he never gives up, and why he is still such an important part of the national team. On Saturday night, he captained Melbourne City to an A-League championship, but that was just the entrée to the main dish: his first international goal since 2012, which sealed Australia's first win over Japan since 2009. 'With what's on the line for us, what we've had to go through this campaign, and obviously playing against a nation that we haven't beaten I don't know how many years … we're always the underdog and always expected to lose, but we always have belief within those four walls,' he said. 'This is right up there in my green and gold career.' So to the performance. The good thing is it doesn't matter – but it wasn't great. Having already qualified, Japan fielded a second-string team but still utterly dominated the first half, and mostly dominated the second half. Physically, at times, they monstered Australia. In terms of technique, the gulf was frightening. But for all their possession and territory, they managed just one shot on target for the whole match. The Socceroos did what Popovic teams tend to do, particularly in Asia: defend well, remain disciplined and focused, and strike when the opportunity is there. Loading Popovic now has over 12 months to find the missing pieces to Australia's game. There are more than a few, and they are very much needed for them to be competitive at a World Cup. In full context, though, he has done a wonderful job. When he was parachuted in as Graham Arnold's replacement, this team was in crisis, in shambles, and direct qualification looked in serious danger. He has achieved it – well, 'all but', for now – while also restoring pride in the jersey, regenerating his squad with new faces and ideas, and laying down a sturdy foundation which he and his players can now build upon.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Perfectly imperfect: Unlikely hero takes Socceroos to brink of another World Cup
In the fair dinkum department, however, you can start booking your tickets to North America because the Socceroos have a goal difference buffer of +10 over Saudi Arabia, the team they'll face in next week's final World Cup qualifier in Jeddah, and there's no universe in which that gets erased and Australia loses second spot in Group C. So rejoice – and prepare to rejoice again on Wednesday morning (AEST). In the meantime, Aziz Behich, please step forward and take your place in the pantheon of Australian heroes – right next to John Aloisi, Josh Kennedy and Andrew Redmayne, other Socceroo icons who have emerged from troubled times as qualification heroes. Though the rest of the match will be quickly forgotten, Behich's 90th-minute goal will be forever remembered. It came from nowhere: an inboard pass from the right from Jason Geria to fellow substitute Riley McGree, who turned beautifully and broke into space in Australia's penalty area. But his touch seemed too heavy, and the ball seemed destined to roll out for a goal kick. So he chased it, and cut the ball back to the penalty spot, picking out … well, nobody initially, but Behich went after it, beat a Japanese defender to it, and curled it in with his right foot. 'It was just about getting myself in a position into the box,' Behich said post-match. Loading 'One thing that the boss said at half-time was, we've still got to work hard, it'll be tough to break down, but we'll get our opportunity if we stick to our structure and get numbers into the box - and we'll get one opportunity, and we'll take it. 'I just tried to get myself into that back post area, and as soon as it sat and came off my foot, I felt I hit it pretty nicely. I actually didn't see the ball hit the net, I just saw the crowd erupt and players start running everywhere, and that's when I looked at the goal and was like – let's go. It's a beautiful moment. I'm grateful that I was the one to hit the back of the net, but the boys out there tonight had to work so hard.' Behich is one of Australia's most underappreciated players. He has spent most of his career trying to escape the memory of the 2010 A-League grand final, when he missed an open goal that could have won it for Melbourne Victory. Capped 80 times for the Socceroos, he is hardly the kind of guy who sells tickets or customised jerseys, and for a few years now, it's as if a good section of fans have been waiting for Jordan Bos or someone else to take his spot on the left side of defence so he can be forgotten. But Behich, 34, has a surplus of ticker, which is why teammates and coaches love him, why he never gives up, and why he is still such an important part of the national team. On Saturday night, he captained Melbourne City to an A-League championship, but that was just the entrée to the main dish: his first international goal since 2012, which sealed Australia's first win over Japan since 2009. 'With what's on the line for us, what we've had to go through this campaign, and obviously playing against a nation that we haven't beaten I don't know how many years … we're always the underdog and always expected to lose, but we always have belief within those four walls,' he said. 'This is right up there in my green and gold career.' So to the performance. The good thing is it doesn't matter – but it wasn't great. Having already qualified, Japan fielded a second-string team but still utterly dominated the first half, and mostly dominated the second half. Physically, at times, they monstered Australia. In terms of technique, the gulf was frightening. But for all their possession and territory, they managed just one shot on target for the whole match. The Socceroos did what Popovic teams tend to do, particularly in Asia: defend well, remain disciplined and focused, and strike when the opportunity is there. Loading Popovic now has over 12 months to find the missing pieces to Australia's game. There are more than a few, and they are very much needed for them to be competitive at a World Cup. In full context, though, he has done a wonderful job. When he was parachuted in as Graham Arnold's replacement, this team was in crisis, in shambles, and direct qualification looked in serious danger. He has achieved it – well, 'all but', for now – while also restoring pride in the jersey, regenerating his squad with new faces and ideas, and laying down a sturdy foundation which he and his players can now build upon.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Jones turns up the power in French Open double mission
Emerson Jones has stepped up her mission to win the girls singles at the French Open and regain her junior world No.1 ranking by reaching the last four at Roland Garros. Australia's No.1 seed proved too strong for American opponent Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, on court 14, winning 7-5 6-4. The Gold Coast 16-year-old will now take on Austria's Lilli Tagger in Friday's semi-final. Tagger reached the last four by overpowering Germany's 12-seeded Julia Stusek 6-0 6-4. Jones is attempting to become the first Australian since West Australian Lesley Hunt, 57 years ago, to win a girls' singles tournament at Roland Garros. Her victims this week have included Capucine Jauffret, of the US, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year. She needed three sets to progress from those matches but delivered a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals. The Gold Coast local is also chasing a return to the junior world No.1 ranking at Roland Garros having recently been replaced at the top by Japan's Australian Open 2025 girls' singles champion, Wakana Sonobe. Victory today could pave the way to a final showdown with her doubles partner, Hannah Klugman. The British starlet beat Sarah Melany Fajmonova in three sets and now faces Bulgaria's Rositsa Dencheva. Emerson Jones has stepped up her mission to win the girls singles at the French Open and regain her junior world No.1 ranking by reaching the last four at Roland Garros. Australia's No.1 seed proved too strong for American opponent Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, on court 14, winning 7-5 6-4. The Gold Coast 16-year-old will now take on Austria's Lilli Tagger in Friday's semi-final. Tagger reached the last four by overpowering Germany's 12-seeded Julia Stusek 6-0 6-4. Jones is attempting to become the first Australian since West Australian Lesley Hunt, 57 years ago, to win a girls' singles tournament at Roland Garros. Her victims this week have included Capucine Jauffret, of the US, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year. She needed three sets to progress from those matches but delivered a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals. The Gold Coast local is also chasing a return to the junior world No.1 ranking at Roland Garros having recently been replaced at the top by Japan's Australian Open 2025 girls' singles champion, Wakana Sonobe. Victory today could pave the way to a final showdown with her doubles partner, Hannah Klugman. The British starlet beat Sarah Melany Fajmonova in three sets and now faces Bulgaria's Rositsa Dencheva. Emerson Jones has stepped up her mission to win the girls singles at the French Open and regain her junior world No.1 ranking by reaching the last four at Roland Garros. Australia's No.1 seed proved too strong for American opponent Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, on court 14, winning 7-5 6-4. The Gold Coast 16-year-old will now take on Austria's Lilli Tagger in Friday's semi-final. Tagger reached the last four by overpowering Germany's 12-seeded Julia Stusek 6-0 6-4. Jones is attempting to become the first Australian since West Australian Lesley Hunt, 57 years ago, to win a girls' singles tournament at Roland Garros. Her victims this week have included Capucine Jauffret, of the US, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year. She needed three sets to progress from those matches but delivered a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals. The Gold Coast local is also chasing a return to the junior world No.1 ranking at Roland Garros having recently been replaced at the top by Japan's Australian Open 2025 girls' singles champion, Wakana Sonobe. Victory today could pave the way to a final showdown with her doubles partner, Hannah Klugman. The British starlet beat Sarah Melany Fajmonova in three sets and now faces Bulgaria's Rositsa Dencheva. Emerson Jones has stepped up her mission to win the girls singles at the French Open and regain her junior world No.1 ranking by reaching the last four at Roland Garros. Australia's No.1 seed proved too strong for American opponent Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, on court 14, winning 7-5 6-4. The Gold Coast 16-year-old will now take on Austria's Lilli Tagger in Friday's semi-final. Tagger reached the last four by overpowering Germany's 12-seeded Julia Stusek 6-0 6-4. Jones is attempting to become the first Australian since West Australian Lesley Hunt, 57 years ago, to win a girls' singles tournament at Roland Garros. Her victims this week have included Capucine Jauffret, of the US, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year. She needed three sets to progress from those matches but delivered a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals. The Gold Coast local is also chasing a return to the junior world No.1 ranking at Roland Garros having recently been replaced at the top by Japan's Australian Open 2025 girls' singles champion, Wakana Sonobe. Victory today could pave the way to a final showdown with her doubles partner, Hannah Klugman. The British starlet beat Sarah Melany Fajmonova in three sets and now faces Bulgaria's Rositsa Dencheva.
