In the French Open qualifying round, Fran Jones shocked a player rated 152 places higher than her, while fellow Briton Ryan Peniston snapped an eight-match losing streak.
Jones, 22, defeated American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3, and Peniston advanced to the second round of the Paris Open by defeating Turkey’s Altug Celikbilek 6-4 6-2. To advance to the Grand Slam’s main draw, which begins on Sunday, the Brits must survive two more rounds.
After an injury-plagued 2022, world number 316 Jones has found her form this year. Her triumph over two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Vandeweghe was well-earned.
With Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Katie Boulter, Lily Miyazaki, and Katie Swan all competing on Tuesday, more Britons will try to join her in the next round of women’s qualifying.
