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Fran Jones in the first round of the Lexus Nottingham Open, UK
Fran Jones in the first round of the Lexus Nottingham Open, UK | (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | WTA Chennai 2025 | Francesca Jones makes her debut at the tournament and faces Mei Yamaguchi in the opening round

Ros Satar
Tennis

By Ros Satar

  • Francesca Jones [2] v Mei Yamaguchi [Q]
  • H2H: First Meeting
CHENNAI, INDIA – Francesca Jones makes her debut and is the second seed in Chennai where she faces Japanese qualifier Mei Yamaguchi.

 

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Francesca Jones [2] v Mei Yamaguchi [Q] | H2H & Match Fundamentals

Francesca Jones [2] v Mei Yamaguchi [Q] H2H: First Meeting
WTA Chennai India
Hard (O) Prize Money: $3,110
First on Centre Court at 3pm (9:30am GMT) Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required

Francesca Jones is the second seed in Chennai, where she makes her debut at the tournament. She will face Japanese qualifier Mei Yamaguchi.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2025)

Embed from Getty Images

H2H: Francesca Jones (WR 74) Mei Yamaguchi (WR 266)
Tournament Previous Best Debut Debut
1st Serve Return Points Won % 38.6 34.3
Return Points Won % 45.8 45.4
Break Point Conversion % 53.0 47.2
Break Points Saved % 58.2 46.3
Overall Service Points Won % 60.2 50.5

On paper Jones should win comfortably, but Yamaguchi comes in with confidence having come through qualifying

 

 

Playing Styles & Prediction

Jones has enjoyed a bit of success in the hard court autumn swing, with a quarter-final in Guadalajara and Sao Paulo, although fell in her Guangzhou opener. Yamaguchi has struggled to put back-to-back wins together since the Tokyo 6 ITF back in April, so her place in the first round of Chennai should be a confidence boost.

Jones’ aggressive style of play will see her trying to get control opening up her heavy topspin forehand and she will look to make this as physical as she can.

Yamaguchi tries to play a more canny game with a focus on defence and will try and coax errors from Jones by making her play an extra ball. She will look to absorb power and redirect, but Jones may just be able to overpower her.

Prediction: Jones in straight sets.

 

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