The US Open 2025 is just around the corner now, and two British players, Francesca Jones and Billy Harris, are only a win away from qualifying for the main draw of their careers for the very first time.
Jones battled past Gorgod.ze
British No.4 Francesca Jones, the top seed among women’s qualifying, braved a very stiff match to defeat Georgia’s Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-1, 7-6 (13-11).
Jones began fast, going 3-0 ahead inside 11 minutes at Stadium 17, where the wind was not cooperating much. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old saved seven break points before finishing the set, as Gorgodze reverted with her potent forehand. In the second set, the Georgian broke early and went 3-0 ahead, making things tricky.
The set went into a lengthy tie-break. Jones was struggling but preserved four set points and ultimately, after her fifth match point, won. In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, she said: “If I could swear, I would! She makes you hit so many balls. Honestly, why didn’t I want to stay here today in a third set?“
She will now play Arianne Hartono in the final qualifying round. If Shwinsinn, Jones will make her first entry into the US Open main draw. She is ranked a career-high 86 in the world but fell short of direct entry as the cut-off date had already expired.
Harris bounced back well after losing the first set
No.151 Billy Harris lost the first set against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin but reversed the match from there on. He proceeded to win nine successive games, dominating the remainder, and claimed the win 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2.
This is the second consecutive year Harris has made it to the final qualifying round of the US Open. He had never even made it past the main draw, and now just one more victory can propel him there.
Other British results are disappointing
For the rest of the British players, it was a disappointing day. Jodie Burrage and Harriet Dart, both of whom have reached the US Open second round in previous seasons, were not so fortunate. Burrage lost 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4 to Dutch 18th seed Arantxa Rus. Dart fell 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to American Ayana Akli.
On the men’s side, Jay Clarke fell 6-3, 6-4 to top-seeded Frenchman Arthur Cazaux and Oliver Crawford was also defeated 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 by American Garrett Johns.
What comes next
The US Open 2025 main draw commences on 24 August in Flushing Meadows, New York. Most of the British names are already eliminated from qualifying, so the big attention now is on Jones and Harris. If both win their next matches, they will appear on the main stage in New York for the first time in their careers.
