ROLAND GARROS

May 24, 2026

Francesca Jones

Press Conference

F. Jones/B. Haddad Maia

1-6, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Fran, tell us about the match. How did you manage to turn that around?

FRANCESCA JONES: Hi, everyone. I look more red in this light than ever, don't I?

Yeah, I mean, obviously it's difficult when you play someone that's much more experienced in these scenarios than I am. It's my first main draw here, and she's played semis here. She knows what she's doing on the court.

Although her form maybe isn't her best at the moment, I feel like that first set, you know, we didn't miss a forehand. She played excellent tennis. Of course, you know, I wasn't on my best, but we're talking about two players that maybe aren't on their best form generally speaking, so it's difficult to find that when I'm, again, experiencing my first main draw here.

I think I'm not one to toot my own trumpet, but I do say that I'm a mentality monster in many ways, and I think in these moments I either find that or, you know, you're done and dusted against these players, you've got no chance to get back in.

I just tried to make it very uncomfortable for her, and every point mattered.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. There was a lovely moment where you celebrated with your mum and dad. Can you just give us an insight into the sacrifices they've made for you and the time you have spent away from them. It looked like a really family team moment celebrating with them.

FRANCESCA JONES: Normally I'm one to say you shouldn't cry until the tournament is over, but I think everything I've been through this year, it's really been challenging. I think really tough on my parents, like, throughout the kind of whole concussion process and all that. They've been on the other side of the world.

Obviously I can't speak much about it, but it was in U.S., so it's tough for them, different time zones, calling from hospitals, and not understanding bloody American medical insurance shite.

So it was a really challenge, and I think they've just suffered with me, you know, even from a distance. Of course, you can look at the bigger picture, but truly the emotion for me isn't about the bigger picture. It's much more about how tough this year has been.

So, yeah, I lost a bad match and right about this week as well, so to find a way back today in the same week, it's not an easy ask. Yeah, I'm just glad that I dug deep.

Q. Fran, first of all, you had quite a long hug with Beatrice at the net. I'm wondering what was maybe being said in that embrace and whether there's a relationship between you two? I also wanted to ask you about having lost six first-round Grand Slams before, to get over the line, were you conscious of that at all, that you have been here before, and there was a grit to not let it slip again?

FRANCESCA JONES: Has it been six, has it?

Q. I think it's six. Seven.

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, I retired in Australia. We don't count that one. It was a bad injury.

Q. Five.

FRANCESCA JONES: Let's say it's five.

Q. Clearly it wasn't on your mind.

FRANCESCA JONES: No, I mean, firstly, the question around Bea, Bea is probably one of my biggest fans. She's one of the players that texts me when I do well. There's no secret I've spent a lot of time in South America.

She's actually coached now by someone who I will refer to as kind of like my uncle. He was with me at my second Wimbledon and throughout that '24 grass season, and I speak to him every week. So, yeah, there's a good relationship there with Bea, but especially with her box in that sense.

She's a great example for everyone on tour. She's a fighter. She gives everything she can on the match court. She completely and utterly is the definition of being a professional tennis player. So there's a lot of, I guess, mutual respect, and, yeah, like a sort of big sister figure for me on the tour.

When it comes to the rest of it, was it on my mind? I think what was more on my mind wasn't necessarily the past. There's a lot of context to previous losses and first round, as I said, the injury. If you count 2021 Australia all the way back, it was my first-ever a long time ago.

I think for me it was more about doing it here on the clay. It is my surface. I've had a tough clay season, which is, you know, difficult for me to swallow because of all the above that we don't need to go back and talk about. So I think just to try and at least compensate a little bit means a lot from that side of things, yeah.

Q. Fran, congrats. I know it's only the first round, but obviously seeing your emotions on the court, I just wondered how does this win rank for you in terms of looking back over the last few years? Is it one of kind of your top moments on court?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, it will be a top moment on court, but there's absolutely no reason why I'll be living in the shadows in my next match at all, right? I know I'm dangerous on this surface. I know I've not been on my best form, but it gives you belief.

I think, of course, if we go back to the fact that I was told I couldn't play tennis, you know, when you're winning matches in the main draws of slams and beating someone that was 10 in the world, that's -- you know, it kind of nips you in the bud a bit.

Of course, it's a monumental moment, but don't get me wrong, I'll be going after the next match.

Q. Forgive me if this sounds a bit of a Billy Elliott question, but from 2-1 down in the final set, you played five games where you barely made a mistake. What's it like? What does it feel like in your mind and your body to be able to play tennis like that at that moment?

FRANCESCA JONES: You know, I think I've often found the seesaw of how my brain works difficult to understand. I know that I have a high IQ on and off the court, and so sometimes it's difficult for me to understand that.

In those moments, it's either make or break, whether I use it to my advantage, or sometimes you can see everything that I need to improve, and, you know, that can be overwhelming. Sort of diagrams in my head seeing how it's all going wrong or the pathway to making it right.

So I think today, thankfully, I chose the right pathway, but you know, of course, there's moments where it's difficult to choose the right ball to hit, to accept the mistakes you're making that are the right ones, as well.

But, yeah, I didn't realize I barely missed a shot. To be honest, I think I was just taking it very much point by point and irrespective of the score.

Q. Fran, it was a pretty long match. It was very hot out there. How pleased are you with the physical side and how well you held up?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, no, definitely. I think it's, again, no secret that previously I've struggled with three sets, but to be honest, last year and coming into this year as well, I started the year winning two back-to-back three sets against a top-10 player or whatever she was ranked at that time. I think I'm gaining more confidence as three sets are happening.

Yeah, of course, with the heat, like, it's tough on us both. I could see how red-faced she was. I didn't even want to look at myself in the mirror if she was that red.

So, yeah, of course, huge challenge, and I know a lot of the players will be finding it tough today, but it's part of tennis. You've got to find a way to deal with the conditions, so it is what it is.

Q. You mentioned how tough you are mentally. I just wondered where you thought that came from? Is that something that you've always had, that strength, and the more adversity you've faced?

FRANCESCA JONES: Yeah, of course. It's as simple as it looks really. You go through a lot. You deal with a lot. You know how to tolerate a lot. So it's really as black and white as that. I'd like to give you a better answer, but it is really that black and white.

Q. Fran, you're quite a positive person, but when years ago --

FRANCESCA JONES: Am I?

Q. In terms of when you were told years ago you're never going to play tennis, doctors are telling you you're never going to make it, and you become a tennis player, and you now win a slam match. Is there a part of you that thinks I would like to have a word with them or hope they were watching? I know you're looking forward, but is there a part of you that's thinking that perhaps?

FRANCESCA JONES: It speaks for itself, honestly. It speaks for itself. I hope I can do this more often to keep getting the message across more, because I know that whilst the tour respects me a lot and do a lot for me, I think I'd like to reach more angles of the world. So I'll keep giving it my everything to keep pushing the story ahead.

Yeah, it's -- I guess I refer to it as a story, but ultimately it's a reality.