Australian tennis has found its next bright star, and her name is Emerson Jones. The 17-year-old phenomenon is brimming with confidence and ambition as she sets her sights on breaking into the world's top 100 following an inspiring performance at the Brisbane International.

Jones turned heads with a stunning first-round victory over 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria, marking her second career win against a top-50 player. Though she fell to world No.17 Liudmila Samsonova in the second round, the teenager walked away with something far more valuable: belief in her ability to compete at the highest level.

"It is going to give me more confidence to be honest," Jones shared enthusiastically about her Brisbane breakthrough. "These experiences and knowing that I have played these women before at this level, I can definitely come into the match knowing how they play and it gives me confidence."

The young star's trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2024, Jones achieved a historic milestone by becoming Australia's first junior girls world No.1 since Jelena Dokic in 1998. By year's end, she had successfully cracked the top 150, a goal she and her coach had set at the beginning of the season.

Now, with her confidence soaring, Jones has her eyes firmly fixed on the top 100. "Definitely, trying to make the top 100 this year is a goal we'd love to crack," she said with determination.

Tennis legend Ash Barty recently praised Jones as one of the best young players she's seen, but the teenager remains grounded about such comparisons. Rather than feeling pressured, Jones sees them as compliments while staying focused on carving her own unique path in the sport.

"Everyone compares me to Ash but Ash has her own journey and I think she did absolutely amazing," Jones explained thoughtfully. "It would be amazing to achieve what she did. I focus on myself and that definitely works for me."

Impressively, Jones is balancing her final year of high school with her burgeoning tennis career, though she's clear about where her passion lies. "School is there. It's not my priority but I am going to finish school and hopefully that is the end of it for me," she said with a smile. "I am just going to focus on my tennis. I am doing a pretty good job of it all, handling myself."

The Brisbane tournament also showcased other promising Australian talents. Fellow Queenslanders Olivia Gadecki and Kim Birrell both competed valiantly, with Gadecki earning high praise from 2025 Grand Slam semi-finalist Mirra Andreeva, who called her "a very tough opponent" after their three-set battle.

As Jones prepares for the Australian Open armed with newfound experience and confidence, Australian tennis fans have every reason to feel excited. This young champion's combination of talent, maturity, and determination suggests the future of Australian tennis is in very capable hands.