Jones demonstrates patience to set up Raducanu quarter-final

By Paul Eddison, Sportsbeat

Fran Jones is the first to admit that patience is not her forte but she showed plenty of it to set up an all-British quarter-final clash with Emma Raducanu at the LTA’s Rothesay Open in Nottingham.

The 23-year-old spent Thursday night ruing the intervention of the weather after rain had forced her off while serving for the match against American Ashlyn Krueger.

Serving at 6-5 30-30 when the rain stopped play, Jones then saved a break point, requiring four points in all to wrap up a 6-4 4-6 7-5 success.

That then earned her a clash with 2021 US Open champion Raducanu in the quarter-finals, with Jones delighted to have come through.

She said: “That was a more excruciating wait than when Man United were 2-1 up on Man City at the end of the FA Cup final. It definitely tested my worst attribute which is my patience. I’ve heard a lot of jokes.

“It was really tough because it was a patient wait to say the least. Even today, having further delays wasn’t easy. But I’m really content to have been able to use my strongest attribute which is my mental strength to stay zoned in the right amount and put four first serves in, which isn’t easy.”

Next up is Raducanu, enjoying a fine run of form of her own as she reached a first WTA quarter-final on grass.

The duo know each other well, and have spent plenty of time training together ahead of the grass-court swing.

And having not had the opportunity to play a great deal on the grass in the last couple of years, Jones is relishing the chance to make a deep run.

She added: “I won matches in juniors on grass but I’ve only played one proper grass season. I’ve been hampered by injuries the last couple of years and even the previous years. But I enjoy grass, I don’t think I’m a one surface player. There are different patterns of play on every surface and I’m just getting used to it.

“Emma and I get on very well, we’ve spent a lot of time together in the last couple of weeks, to the point that we are ill and have given it to each other. I’ll blame her.

“Hopefully we can give the crowd a flavour of what is hopefully the future of British tennis.”

And the British flavour will not end there. The winner of the match between Raducanu and Jones, which was postponed until Saturday due to rain, will take on Katie Boulter, the defending champion.

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website