When she walked over to shake Williams’ hand, Jones paused to bow to her opponent—drawing a wide smile from Williams—before the pair warmly embraced at the net.
“I told Venus at the net, she’s still on the wall of my childhood room in Barcelona, both her and Serena,” Jones revealed.
The full-circle moment is also a “relief” for Jones, who had not won a match since January. She has struggled with injuries throughout the year, exacerbated by an unrelenting schedule and the physical challenges caused by EEC.
Now, her mission is to play as many matches as possible, rebuild her match fitness, and be ready for when the calendar shifts closer to home in Europe.
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In Miami, the challenge won’t get any easier for Jones—No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula awaits next.
For Venus, the Miami match marks the 45-year-old wild card’s ninth consecutive defeat—a streak dating back to July 2025, when she defeated countrywoman Peyton Stearns in Washington, D.C.
