Gold Coast teenage sensation Emerson Jones has fallen brief in her bid to turn into the primary native winner of the Australian Open ladies’ singles title in nearly three a long time.
The 15-year-old’s excellent week resulted in a 6-4, 6-1 defeat to top-seeded Slovakian left-hander Renata Jamrichova within the ultimate on Rod Laver Enviornment on Saturday.
Australia’s new Billie Jean King captain Sam Stosur was amongst these within the stands to look at Jones. Stosur’s previous coach, David Taylor, is now guiding Jones’ profession.
Emerson Jones within the junior ladies championship on the Australian Open.Credit score: Getty
The silver lining for Jones is that Russian rising star Mirra Andreeva was in her precise place 12 months in the past – additionally aged 15 on the time – dropping the ladies’ ultimate to greatest pal Alina Korneeva, solely to succeed in the spherical of 16 within the girls’s draw at Wimbledon barely 5 months later.
Sixth-seeded Jones, who’s already ranked contained in the world’s junior ladies’ high 10 regardless of her tender age, entered the week with real title aspirations after a powerful victory in final week’s lead-in occasion at Traralgon.
Jones raced out of the blocks in opposition to a slow-starting Jamrichova to interrupt within the second sport and shortly go 3-0 up, then earned herself an opportunity to go a double-break up earlier than the Slovakian sprung to life.
Jamrichova slammed down an ace to stave off that chance, went on to carry serve, then broke Jones to like within the Australian’s subsequent two service video games earlier than clinching a one-set lead.
The second set shortly bought away from Jones, together with her older rival storming to a 4-0 benefit as she took management from the baseline.
Renata Jamrichova wins the Australian Open junior ladies championship 2024.Credit score: Getty