In a stunning display of talent and determination, 16-year-old Australian tennis prodigy Emerson Jones has captured the spotlight with her remarkable victory at the Adelaide International. Jones, who hails from the Gold Coast, defeated China’s world No. 37 Xinyu Wang in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, to advance to the second round of the tournament.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Jones’ young career, as it is her first win against a top-50-ranked player. Ranked No. 373 in the world, Jones admitted to feeling a bit wary at the start of the match but quickly found her confidence as the game progressed. “At the start of the match, because I have never played a top-50 player before, I was like a bit wary of how good she was, so I wasn’t quite sure,” Jones said. “But as the match went on I was like ‘I have got this – if I really play well, I have got a chance'”.
Jones’ impressive performance comes just a year after she became the first Australian to finish a year as the top-ranked world junior. Her mental fortitude and dedication to improving her game have been key factors in her success. “Mentally I have improved a lot from last year,” Jones said. “I have got no expectations playing in these high-level tournaments, so I just play every game as hard as I can”.
The young star, who turns 17 in July, has been compared to the legendary Ash Barty, but Jones is focused on carving out her own path in the tennis world. “It’s really exciting to know that she has done all of this… I find it really exciting that people say ‘she did this and that’ and I am following in her footsteps,” Jones said. “But I just think we’re all on our different journeys and I just want to see how I go”.
With another wildcard entry into the Australian Open, Jones is poised to continue making waves in the tennis world. Her recent victory is a testament to her hard work and potential, and fans will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on her future performances.
Jones in Adelaide, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked no.371 (career-high), Emerson owns a compiled 1-1 win-loss record in 2025. Emerson is playing at the moment in Adelaide where she defeated the world no.37 Xinyu Wang 6-4 6-0.
Emerson Jones will come up against the world no.9 Darya Kasatkina in the 2nd round. In the past, they have never competed against each other till now in top events.