Latest news with #FranJones
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Fran Jones says her ‘heart worked a little too hard' after on-court collapse
British number five Fran Jones has revealed her on-court collapse in Bogota came after a lack of acclimatisation meant her 'heart worked a little too hard'. The 24-year-old, fresh from winning her eighth career title in Brazil over the weekend, was two points from defeat in her round of 32 match with Julia Riera when she staggered while attempting to serve before falling to the floor. She was taken out on a wheelchair and withdrew from the tournament. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday she reassured supporters over her health and blamed the episode on difficult preparations that denied her adequate conditioning time in Colombia. Jones explained that she spent 24 hours travelling after her win in Brazil and was unable to train in the high altitude of Bogota on Monday due to rain. She posted on her Instagram story: 'Aside from my low-level pre-match warm-up, my first exposure to the limited oxygen levels at a high-intensity was my match. As the match went on, I worked hard to give myself the opportunity to stay competitive while trying to get used to the conditions but progressively struggled; blurry vision eventually leading to collapsing, with no cramp having occurred. 'Overnight we conducted multiple studies and it seems my heart worked a little too hard on the day but thankfully no longer term impact. After a few days rest, I will continue to build on the improvements made to date this season.' Jones, who is ranked 129 in the world, has to deal with physical challenges on court after being born with the rare genetic condition Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia. She is missing one finger on each hand and has only seven toes, and finishing matches has been a challenge throughout her career, with Jones suffering bouts of severe cramp. This was the 19th time in her career she has retired during a match and the second time this year. In the US, British number seven Heather Watson suffered a straight-sets defeat in the first round of the Charleston Open. The 32-year-old was beaten 7-6 (8) 6-4 by Belarusian world number 215 Iryna Shymanovich.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Britain's Fran Jones collapses on court in Colombia
Britain's Fran Jones has been helped off court in a wheelchair after collapsing during a match in 24-year-old was attempting to serve in the ninth game of a deciding third set in Bogota when she fell to the the British number five, was unable to finish the Colsanitas Cup first-round match."Due to a physical issue, Francesca Jones has withdrawn from her match against Julia Riera at 6-2 5-7 5-3 in favour of the Argentinian," read a Colsanitas Cup statement."We wish the British tennis player a speedy recovery."Meanwhile, Heather Watson is out of the Charleston Open after a straight sets defeat by Iryna Shymanovich in the first British number seven was beaten 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 by the Belarusian world number 215.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Brit Fran Jones taken off court in wheelchair after mid-match collapse
British tennis player Fran Jones has been forced to withdraw from the Colsanitas Cup in Bogota after collapsing in the middle of a match. In footage of the incident posted to social media, the 24-year-old appeared to stagger after failing to return a serve from Argentina's Julia Riera in the third set and was unable to return to play. She fell to the ground and was removed from the court in a wheelchair. Jones' retirement from the tournament was confirmed in an online statement. 'Due to a physical issue, Francesca Jones has withdrawn from her match against Julia Riera at 6-2 5-7 5-3 in favor of the Argentinian,' the Colsanitas Cup's official X account said. 'We wish the British tennis player a speedy recovery.' Riera will next face America's Iva Jovic in the round of 16. In the US, British number seven Heather Watson suffered a straight-sets defeat in the first round of the Charleston Open. The 32-year-old was beaten 7-6 (8) 6-4 by Belarusian world number 215 Iryna Shymanovich. Watson saved three set points during a tight opener but could not capitalise on her one opportunity to seize the initiative during the tie break. The world number 182 was broken four times in set two, including in her final two service games, as Shymanovich progressed to a last-32 meeting with top seed Jessica Pegula, the beaten finalist at last year's US Open.
