Aged just 17, Emerson Jones is already making waves during the Australian summer of tennis. The teenager, who has been compared to compatriot and three-time Major winner Ash Barty, earned one of the biggest wins of her young career at this week’s Brisbane International, and she’s now hoping to carry her form into the Australian Open, where she has received a main draw wildcard.
A former junior world No. 1, Jones has already enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings since joining the professional circuit. She started last year outside of the world’s top 370 and now sits at a career high of No. 147 in the world. Jones is primed to become one of Australia’s top tennis stars, and she’ll have the support of her mum, Olympic silver medallist triathlete, Loretta Harrop.
Fans will recognise Jones when she returns to the Australian Open in search of her first Grand Slam main draw win this month, as the Gold Coast native has been featured on the latest digital cover of Vogue Australia, kitted out in Nike for the photoshoot.
The rising star also received the seal of approval from former world No. 1 Barty in the feature. “She’s certainly exciting to watch — a joy when in full flight,” the retired Australian said.
It’s not the first time Barty has piled praise on the teenager. Last year, the former Aussie Open champion branded Jones a “very driven person”, adding: “She’s passionate, she wants to do well, she’s focused, she’s professional.” Although Jones has already faced plenty of comparisons to Barty during her young career, she’s brushed them off.
But the three-time Grand Slam champion has always been a huge inspiration for Jones, who stunned world No. 43 and reigning Queen’s champion Tatjana Maria at the Brisbane International before suffering a 6-4 6-1 defeat to No. 10 seed Liudmila Samsonova.
“Yeah, always, for sure she definitely was. I think it was two years ago I had a hit for her before I went to Junior Wimbledon, and just the advice she gave me, I really took it in. Yeah, it was so special to hear that from her,” Jones said of her countrywoman.
“I have had that for a while since last year, and, you know, doesn’t really put any pressure on me. Everyone compares me to Ash and all that, but Ash has her own journey, and I think she did absolutely amazing and it would be amazing to achieve what she did. But, yeah, I kind of focus on myself and, you know, I think that definitely works for me, just focus on who’s in front of me, and I definitely think that helps, yeah.”
At just 17, it’s no surprise that Jones has maintained a good perspective during her young career. The world No. 147 comes from a sporting background. Her mother won an Olympic silver medal in women’s triathlon at the 2004 Olympic Games, while Jones’ father, Brad, is a former Australian Rules footballer.
After getting her second win over a top-50 player in Brisbane, Jones will be hoping to carry that momentum into the Australian Open, where she is already guaranteed to take home at least £74k (A$150k) in prize money. The rising star also received a main draw wildcard last year but was handed a brutal draw, losing to former Wimbledon champion and No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina in the first round. She bounced back to reach the junior doubles final with British ace Hannah Klugman.
After losing to Samsonova on Wednesday, the 17-year-old added: “I think it’s going to give me more confidence than anything, to be honest. Winning these matches, even if they’re first rounds, definitely give me confidence, because, you know, that was my second top-50 win of my life, and this was my second time playing a top-20 player, so definitely the experience is knowing I have played these women before and that level, I definitely think I come into the match knowing how they play, and it gives me confidence to know the level.”