Keen to find a way to keep three children active during the summer holidays, Simon Jones was driving along, saw a banner outside Heaton Tennis Club in Bradford advertising summer camps, and quickly signed up five-year-old Fran Jones and her older brother and sister. That was the start of her tennis journey.
At the age of nine, Fran Jones moved to Spain to train at the Sanchez Casal Tennis Academy to further her tennis career. At age 16, she moved to Ad-In Tennis Academy (also in Barcelona) where she was based for two years. She also works with the LTA’s CMO Jo Larkin and LTA nutritionist Dan Ellis.
Fran Jones was born with a rare genetic condition: Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia (EED) syndrome (missing one finger on each hand and three toes) which has required frequent surgeries over the years, but according to herself, never saw this as something that could prevent her from reaching her dreams.
Quick-fire facts
- Place of birth: Born in Keighley in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire. Grew up in Oxenhope until moving to Barcelona at the age of nine
- Lives: Barcelona / Weybridge when in the UK
- Trains: Trains at the LTA’s NTC when in the UK
- Likes: Enjoying good food (self-described foodie) – some favourite meals are a traditional paella cooked over a barbeque or Sunday Roast – but is reluctant to single out any dish and these can change! Music – loves everything – if had to pick a favourite album would be Mothership by Led Zepplin. Also interested in property and would like to attend university at Oxford or Cambridge once her tennis career is over (says she had to let go of that dream in order to pursue her tennis) Is also a big football (Manchester United supporter) fan.
- Family: Mum – Adele, Dad – Simon – both financial advisors who now live in Weybridge. Brother Daniel (5 years older) and sister Chloe (3 years older).
- Self described as: A perfectionist, determined, gritty and extremely competitive.
