Fran Jones in tears after being forced out of French Open qualifying with injury

The Briton was looking to reach the French Open for the first time.

Pa Sport Staff
Wednesday 24 May 2023 15:05 BST
Fran Jones picked up an injury in qualifying at the French Open (John Walton/PA)
Fran Jones picked up an injury in qualifying at the French Open (John Walton/PA) (PA Archive)

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Fran Jones’ hopes of making a first French Open appearance are over after she was forced to retire during her second qualifying round.

The Briton, who suffers from a congenital condition which means she has three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on one foot and four toes on the other, was left in tears as she had to retire due to an apparent shoulder injury during the first set of her clash with Ylena In-Albon at Roland Garros.

Jones, currently ranked 316 in the world, had beaten former grand slam semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe in her opening round and had enjoyed some encouraging results on the ITF circuit prior to the main clay-court in Paris.

She joins Heather Watson and Katie Swan in heading out of qualifying as the British pair lost in Tuesday’s first-round qualifying.

Harriet Dart was also beaten by France’s Elsa Jacquemot to end her hopes of making the main draw.

Dart started well and won the first set easily but went on to lose 1-6 6-1 6-2.

Ryan Peniston also took the first set in his clash with eighth seed Radu Albot, but the Romanian came back to win 2-6 6-2 6-4.

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