If you recognize Fran Jones’ story, you’ll know she has needed to do issues in a different way.
So it shouldn’t be a shock the 23-year-old Briton determined to not make a late push – and threat her longer-term ambitions – to affix the world’s main stars at this week’s French Open.
Jones is exclusive amongst British gamers, having grown up taking part in on clay and attaining her best successes on the floor.
Nonetheless, the world quantity 295 opted towards attempting to play in qualifying at Roland Garros – the Grand Slam event which is the head of clay-court tennis.
“I may have pursued it however I’m not ready the place I’m prepared to hurry my physique proper now,” Jones, who barely performed in 2022 and 2023 due to a string of accidents, informed BBC Sport.
“This yr’s aim is to spend extra time on a tennis court docket.”
Jones was born with a genetic situation which suggests she has three fingers and a thumb on every hand, three toes on her proper foot and 4 toes on her left.
Medical doctors informed her to neglect about taking part in tennis professionally.
Because of this, Jones left Bradford aged 10 and moved to Barcelona, becoming a member of the famend Sanchez Academy to assist fulfil her objectives.
“The expertise of a health care provider telling me taking part in tennis was an nearly unattainable problem was highly effective,” Jones mentioned.
“It made it a problem in my head.
“My competitiveness is what has acquired me thus far and the willpower to maintain pushing myself.
“Folks must hold dreaming huge and I’ll hold dreaming huge till the day I die.”
Bodily points have hampered Jones’ progress in latest seasons and constructing her health stays a precedence, having employed a full-time physio on the finish of 2021.
Taking on highway biking and tackling the well-known terrains round Girona, simply north of her base in Barcelona, on lengthy rides thrice per week has improved stamina and energy.
This month Jones has performed ITF occasions in Portugal, Italy and Spain as she continues to construct robustness, and plans to begin grass-court preparations for Wimbledon whereas her friends compete in Paris.
There are nonetheless setbacks, although. Final week she needed to retire from an occasion in Madrid due to cramp.
“What I’ve discovered comparatively robust, if not the most important problem up to now, is moving into the rhythm of being a tennis participant once more – the approach to life and its calls for,” Jones mentioned.
“You get used to the nine-to-five of rehab if you’re injured.
“I’m build up extra tournaments and searching for extra consecutive weeks competing, however I’m going with the move. Virtually each event I play is a privilege.
“I’m not searching for a ratio of weeks, the target is to play after I really feel my physique is able to.”