"During the first weeks of last year's clay-court season, Francesca Jones found herself fighting through a breathless three-set tussle in Bogota that was rapidly falling out of her control. Trailing 5-3 in the final set of her second-round match, an exhausted Jones began her service motion. As she tried to leap into the air and strike the ball, however, she staggered forwards and collapsed to the ground. Two points from defeat, she was steered off the court in a wheelchair."
"She was born with the rare genetic condition Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EEC), which means she has three fingers and a thumb on each hand and seven toes in total. It has come with numerous physical challenges that have affected Jones in her daily life as well as in her pursuit of success as a professional athlete. During her earlier years, while most of her contemporaries progressed as players and matured physically, Jones underwent various surgeries directly related to her condition."
Francesca Jones frequently experienced match-ending physical collapses, including a Bogota match where she collapsed trailing 5-3 and was taken off in a wheelchair. In 2024 she entered 20 tournaments; seven ended in mid-match retirements and she withdrew mid-tournament from another event, meaning her body prevented completion in 40% of her events. She was born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EEC), resulting in three fingers and a thumb on each hand and seven toes. EEC required multiple surgeries during her youth, limited strength development, and makes sustaining a racket grip difficult, with hands cramping after short breaks from training. Jones recognizes the inspirational aspect but does not allow the condition to define her.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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