Following a pair of Grand Slam closing heartaches, Emerson Jones lived as much as her high seeding for her largest profession title on the ITF Junior World Tour Finals in Chengdu.
22 October 2024 | Tennis Australia
Emerson Jones is aware of by no means to take huge finals with no consideration after arising brief in two Grand Slam deciders this yr.
Having created historical past although as the primary Australian ITF Junior World Tour Finals champion in Chengdu on the weekend, it got here as a wholesome reinforcement – albeit with a touch of reduction – that this was the place she belonged.
A 6-4 6-4 victory over Czech fifth seed Laura Samson delivered the world’s No.1 junior her largest title of a promising profession, which this season has additionally included trophies on the J300 Traralgon match on dwelling soil and the J500 occasion in Milan.
Jones was additionally the Australian Open and Wimbledon finalist, the place she fell each occasions to Slovak Renata Jamrichova.
> READ MORE: Emerson and Hayden Jones first siblings to qualify for ITF Junior Finals
“It’s nonetheless a shock to me. I’m fairly pleased with myself how I dealt with every part this week in the course of the shut matches. I’m actually proud of my end result,” the 16-year-old instructed the ITF.
“I simply attempt to keep aggressive, and I knew what I have to do taking part in my very own recreation. Mentally, I attempted to be higher as a result of the primary match I wasn’t excellent mentally, so I simply tried to choose it up from there.
“Clearly, I wish to attempt to win a closing and I did, so I’m actually pleased with that. It’s robust to make all finals and never win one.”
Emerson Jones holds the trophy after profitable the 2024 ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in
Chengdu, China. Photograph: ITF
Jones had already joined esteemed firm when she took her place within the area of eight earlier than victories over Japan’s Wakana Sonobe, Belgium’s Jeline Vandromme, Chilean Antonia Vergara Rivera and Nice Britain’s Mika Stojsavljevic en path to the ultimate.
Grand Slam champions Marketa Vondrousova, Elena Rybakina, Sofia Kenin and Jelena Ostapenko had contested the ITF Junior Finals, whereas Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Andrey Rublev, Zheng Qinwen, Taylor Fritz, Leylah Fernandez, Lorenzo Musetti, Marta Kostyuk and Camila Osorio had additionally competed earlier than their profitable skilled transitions.
One individual by no means brief on wholesome reinforcement all through the season and as Jones drew nearer to her gradual transition to the WTA Tour has been her coach, Dave Taylor, the person who guided Sam Stosur to the 2011 US Open title.
“This week, he’s the one who instructed me I should be aggressive and every part,” she mentioned. “I simply take his recommendation as a result of I do know that he is aware of precisely what he’s speaking about. I took his recommendation and bought the end result.”
>VIEW: ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals attracts and outcomes
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