London, Great Britain , 13 July 2024 | Leigh Rogers

Steely concentration was required as Emerson Jones competed in the Wimbledon girls’ singles quarterfinals today.

Former world No.1 Kim Clijsters was among the crowd gathered courtside to watch her in action at the All England Club, while on a neighbouring court just metres away, seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was warming up for his semifinal match in front of swarming fans.

“I did, but I tried not to,” Jones said when asked if she had noticed the tennis legends while competing.

“I just tried to concentrate on my match because sometimes, actually a lot of the time, I lose concentration and then that doesn’t go well. So I just tried to focus on me.”

The 16-year-old from the Gold Coast had no problems continuing her impressive run, scoring a comfortable 6-2 6-3 victory against Poland’s Monika Stankiewicz.

This effort sees Jones become only the fourth Australian to progress to a girls’ singles semifinal at Wimbledon in the past 30 years and the first to achieve the feat since Ash Barty 13 years earlier.

Jones described reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal as “pretty great”.

“I wasn’t probably expecting to get to semis, I was honestly just focusing on whoever is in front of me,” said the third seed. “But obviously it’s a great feeling.”

Jones next plays sixth seed Iva Joric for a place in the final. She beat the 16-year-old American earlier this year in the final at an ITF J300 tournament in Australia.

> READ: Jones accomplishes 24-year first with victory at Traralgon Junior International

Jones, a member of Tennis Australia’s National Tennis Academy, has also advanced to the Wimbledon girls’ doubles semifinals alongside Italian partner Vittoria Paganetti.

The sixth seeds recorded a 6-3 6-3 victory today against Japan’s Reina Goto and Spaniard Ruth Roura Llaverias in the quarterfinals.

This is the deepest run from an Australian in a Wimbledon girls’ doubles draw since Priscilla Hon made the semifinals 10 years ago.

With this effort, Jones also becomes the first Australian to reach both the Wimbledon girls’ singles and girls’ doubles semifinals in the same year in 34 years.

Kirrily Sharpe was the last Australian to achieve this feat in 1990. She went on to finish runner-up in singles that year and was a doubles finalist alongside Nicole Pratt.

Aussies in action – Wimbledon

RESULTS
Girls’ singles, quarterfinals
[3] Emerson Jones (AUS) d Monika Stankiewicz (POL) 6-2 6-3

Girls’ doubles, quarterfinals
[6] Emerson Jones (AUS)/Vittoria Paganetti (ITA) d Reina Goto (JPN)/Ruth Roura Llaverias (ESP) 6-3 6-3

14/u boys’ singles, round-robin
Lucas Han (AUS) d Demian Agustin Luna (ARG) 6-4 6-2
Taiki Takizawa (AUS) d Aran Selvaraasan (GBR) 6-2 6-3
Rafalentino Ali Da Costa (INA) d Taiki Takizawa (AUS) 4-6 6-3 [10-7]
Stan Put (NED) d Lucas Han (AUS) 6-1 7-5

14/u girls’ singles, round-robin
Liv Zingg (GBR) d Tori Russell (AUS) 6-1 6-3

COMING UP
Girls’ singles, semifinals
[3] Emerson Jones (AUS) v [6] Iva Jovic (USA)

> VIEW: Wimbledon 2024 girls’ singles draw

Girls’ doubles, semifinals
[6] Emerson Jones (AUS)/Vittoria Paganetti (ITA) v [2] Iva Jovic (USA)/Tyra Caterina Grant (USA)

> VIEW: Wimbledon 2024 girls’ doubles draw

Find your way to play: Visit play.tennis.com.au to get out on court and have some fun!