Emerson Jones first Aussie since Ash Barty into Wimbledon girls final

Australia may well be seeing the rise of our next superstar as a teenage prodigy closes in on a first not seen since Ash Barty.

Emerson Jones is following in Ash Barty's footsteps. Photo: Stan Sport and Getty Images

Gold Coast tennis prodigy Emerson Jones is on the cusp of Australian tennis history after romping into the final of the Wimbledon girls tournament.

The Aussie, who only turned 16 this week, claimed a straight sets 7-5 6-1 victory over American sixth seed Iva Jovic to book a place in the final against No. 1 seed Slovakian Renata Jamrichova.

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It won’t be the first time the pair have played either, with the 17-year-old Jamrichova having come out on top in the Australian Open girls final.

Neither has lost a set on their way to the decider, although Jamrichova also claimed a stunning 6-0 6-2 thrashing of unseeded Czech teen Vendula Valdmannova.

But Jones is on the cusp of some huge history and is looking to emulate Ash Barty.

Barty was the last Australian to win the Wimbledon girls title in 2011 and if Jones wins, she will be just the third Australian to win the junior at the All-England Club.

Debbie Freeman also won the Wimbledon girls title in 1980, defeating fellow Aussie Susan Leo.

Jones has also become the first Australian to reach two grand slam girls finals in the same season since Jelena Dokic won the US Open and was a French Open finalist in 1998.

Emerson Jones has made the Wimbledon girls final. Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Jones with Jamrichova after the Australian Open girls final. Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP

Already Jones has become just the eighth Australian to make the girls final since 1947 and seventh in the Open era.

She also became the first Aussie since Kirrily Sharpe in 1990 to make the semi-finals in both the singles and doubles.

But Jones couldn’t match Sharpe by making finals in both, as she and Italian partner Vittoria Paganetti were knocked out by American second seeds Jovic and Tyra Caterina Grant, losing 7-5 7-6.

She had already become the first Australian since Priscilla Hon in 2014 to make the Wimbledon girl doubles semi-final.

Aussie fans were cheering the young Aussie, who were impressed by what they saw.

One fan called her “my GOAT”.

Another called it “Great effort by Emerson Jones”.

Another said: “Emerson Jones small in statue but has some talent. There aren’t many physically dominant players in this junior crop, apart of the No. 1 Jarmichova.”

Speaking to Tennis Australia, Jones said she was better prepared to face Jarmichova after playing in the Australian Open final.

“I’m pretty excited just to be even playing a final of junior Wimby,” Jones said.

“I know how she plays and what she does a bit better now. Obviously she’s a really great player, so we’ll just see how I go.

“My game does suit grass, hitting the ball hard and flat. But I’ve also been really good mentally here. I have had tough matches against pretty good girls and I’ve been pretty good with handling myself under the pressure.”

The gods were smiling on Jones in the match winning net cord. Photo: Channel 9

Emerson Jones couldn't believe it. Photo: Channel 9

It was a brilliant performance from Jones in the semi-final, who raced to 3-0 and 4-1 before a hiccup allowed Jovic back into the match.

But a second break leading 6-5 handed the Australian the set and the ascendancy before she raced through the second set, only dropping the fourth game to claim the second set 6-1.

While it was tough to serve out the match for Jones, a net cord sealed the match with the teen apologising before covering her mouth in the realisation of what she had achieved.

Originally published as Emerson Jones first Aussie since Ash Barty into Wimbledon girls final