Francesca Jones vs McCartney Kessler

🎾 WTA London (Queen’s Club) – First Round

Francesca Jones vs McCartney Kessler

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🧠 Form & Context

Francesca Jones

• 🏆 Lower-tier success: Claimed two ITF W75 titles in 2025 (Vacaria & Prague), and reached a WTA 125 semifinal in Cancun.
• 🇬🇧 Home-court comfort: Quarterfinalist at Nottingham in 2023 with quality wins over Dolehide and Krueger.
• 🧱 Tour breakthrough pending: Still seeking a WTA main-draw win since her Nottingham run.
• 🌱 Grass-suited style: Flat strokes and crowd energy make her a dangerous floater in UK grass events.

McCartney Kessler

• 📉 Clay slump: Suffered five first-round exits in her last six tournaments, struggling on slower surfaces.
• 🔥 Hard court pedigree: Two titles (Hobart, Cleveland) and a final in Austin; reached No. 42.
• 🌱 Grass inexperience: Only began playing grass in 2024 and yet to win a WTA main-draw match on it.
• 🛑 Confidence concerns: Limited grass adaptation and recent losses raise concerns ahead of Queen’s Club.

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🔍 Match Breakdown

Despite the ranking gap, Kessler's grass-court record is nonexistent. She thrives on baseline rhythm, while Queen’s Club demands early racing and low-bounce adaptation—areas where Jones excels.

Jones’s flatter trajectory, UK support, and recent grass momentum give her a clear edge. If Kessler can’t find timing early, the match could hinge on Jones’s ability to close it out.

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🔮 Prediction

This may be Jones’s best shot at another main-draw breakthrough, especially at a familiar venue with home backing.

🧩 Prediction: Francesca Jones in straight sets

Expect Jones to control early, rush from low contact, and convert chances before Kessler hits her stride.