Overview
- Jones prevailed 7-5, 7-5 in the first round and bowed at the net, telling Williams she still says goodnight to posters of Venus and Serena from her childhood bedroom.
- It is her first WTA 1000 main-draw victory and, per OptaAce, the first time a player’s maiden WTA 1000 win came against a former world No. 1.
- Williams’ singles skid reached nine straight losses; she entered Miami with a wild card for her 23rd appearance and will continue in doubles with Leylah Fernandez.
- Jones’ breakthrough follows a stretch hampered by illness and injuries, with the world No. 93 saying she almost skipped the match but did not want to miss facing her idol.
- Separately in Miami, 17-year-old Moïse Kouamé beat Zachary Svajda to become the event’s youngest match winner at this level since Rafael Nadal in 2003.