The world's No.1 junior in 2024, Gold Coaster Jones displayed power, craft and composure in undoing German veteran and world No.43 Tatjana Maria 6-3 6-3 in Monday night's first-round clash.
Jones, still just 17, joined fellow Gold Coasters Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki as first-round victors on Monday in the Australian Open lead-in event.
It took until the sixth game for someone to hold serve, the Australian steadying first to claim the first set and then storm home with five-straight games from a break down in the second set to win in 75 minutes.
An ace and two winners to hold serve after facing break points to go 0-3 down in the second set was the turning point.
The world No.147 hit winners from both sides, ripping her backhand in particular, but showed awareness with drop shots and overheads to outsmart the mother of two, 21 years her senior.
Jones, daughter of Olympic triathlon silver medallist Loretta Harrop will face world No.17 Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.
"Her game was a bit tricky but I'm so happy I got it done, I'm super happy with how I played tonight," Jones, who has an Australian Open wildcard slot, said post-match.
"This is one of the best crowds I've ever played with, I'm so excited."
Birrell had earlier got her summer off to a flying start.
Looking to emulate her quarter-final run at the tournament last year, she posted an emotional 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Slovak world No.71 Rebecca Sramkova..
"I probably sound like a broken record, but just to get to play a tournament so close to where I grew up ... I know these corridors and these courts very well," she said.
"I was a little bit more nervous today than I have been in previous years, especially because of how well I played here last year.
"I was just feeling a little bit more of those emotions. Sometimes I like to lean into it and try to use it to my advantage, and I probably just let it out at the end."
Currently ranked 106, Birrell's consistency helped deliver the valuable win to set up a second round meeting with second seed and world No.3 Amanda Anisimova.
The Australian, who has earned direct entry into this month's home grand slam, was so focused on her play she didn't realise she'd won a game with the umpire having to call out "Kim, it's game" as she tried to secure a ball to serve again.
A blushing Birrell then had three match points but only needed one to secure the victory.
"I honestly did forget the score. I'm really glad that we have umpires because if it was left to us, yeah, I'm not sure how good that would be," Birrell said.
"I guess I was just so focused and really concentrating on every single shot, every single point, and, yeah, that happens sometimes."
Compatriot Gadecki, currently ranked 52 in the world, quickly joined Birrell in the second round, beating American Ann Li 6-4 6-4.
She'll meet 18-year-old world No.9 Mirra Andreeva in the next round.Â
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