British tennis player Fran Jones has spoken out after collapsing during a match in Bogota, Colombia, on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old, ranked 129th in the world, was competing in the first round of the Colsanitas Cup against Argentina's Julia Riera when she fell to the ground while serving at 5-3 down in the third set. She was treated courtside and taken away in a wheelchair.
Jones, who was born with Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia Syndrome—a rare condition that left her without two fingers and three toes—was told by doctors she would never play professional tennis. Despite this, she has built a successful career, reaching the first round of Wimbledon twice and winning the Merida Open in Mexico last week.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Jones explained that the collapse was likely due to altitude sickness. Bogota sits at approximately 2,640 metres above sea level, and Jones had arrived only the day before after a 24-hour trip from Brazil. She wrote: 'As the match went on, I worked hard to give myself the opportunity to stay competitive... but progressively struggled; blurry vision eventually leading to collapsing.' She added that overnight tests showed her heart had worked too hard but there was no long-term impact.
Tournament organisers confirmed Jones withdrew from the match due to a physical issue, handing the win to Riera. Jones said she hopes to return to Bogota in 2026 under better circumstances. She will take a few days' rest before continuing her season.
Jones previously credited her medical condition with building her mental strength. In 2021, she said: 'I've had experiences that many haven't at my age, and I think that's moulded me into the person I am today.' She also noted that a specialist's comment that she would never play professionally 'played a massive part in my life decisions and career commitments.'
