Rising Australian talent Emerson Jones has won the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu, China.
The 16-year-old defeated Czechia third-seed Laura Samson 6-4 6-4 on Centre Court to round out a spectacular 2024 season.
The tournament is the junior equivalent of the ATP and WTA Finals, with Jones joining the top-eight highest-ranked female juniors since Wednesday to compete.
Jones reached two Grand Slam finals on the junior circuit earlier this year at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, falling short against Slovakia's Renata Jamrichova on both occasions.
The Gold Coast girl became the first Aussie female since Jelena Dokic 26 years ago to become the No.1 ranked junior in the world.
Two of her seven ITF titles have been achieved this year at the J500 Milan on clay and the J300 Traralgon on hard courts.
At this year's Australian Open, Jones lost in the first round of main draw qualifying against compatriot Priscilla Hon 6-2 7-5, but she will have her eyes firmly set on another opportunity at Melbourne Park in 2025.
Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Sam Stosur believes the teenager has the world on the tip of her racquet.
"She hits a good ball. She hits it hard, she hits it deep," Stosur said during Wimbledon.
"She’s not very big, but she gets some pretty good pace off her racquet. I think she’s got a bright future."
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