Francesca Jones moved one step closer to her first US Open main draw appearance with a gritty 6-1, 7-6 (13-11) win over Georgia's Ekaterine Gorgodze. The British number four, who has never entered a Grand Slam directly through her ranking, showcased her resilience and skill on the court.

Jones started strong, breaking serve early and taking a 3-0 lead within just 11 minutes at a windy Stadium 17. However, Gorgodze fought back, forcing Jones to save seven break points before the end of the first set. The Georgian, who had a frustrating start, turned the tables in the second set, breaking Jones early and racing to a 3-0 lead.

Despite Gorgodze's powerful forehand, Jones managed to break back and level the set. The match reached a climax in a brutal tie-break, where Jones saved four set points before clinching victory on her fifth match point.

A win in the third round of qualifying on Friday will secure Jones a place in the US Open main draw for the first time in her career. This achievement is particularly significant given her rise to a career-high 86th in the world since the US Open cut-off point.

Other British players, including Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Billy Harris, Oliver Crawford, and Jay Clarke, are also in qualifying action, adding to the excitement of the tournament.

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