Francesca Jones successfully defended her Palermo Ladies Open crown on Sunday, outlasting Fiona Ferro 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(6) in a gripping two-hour 43-minute final at the Country Time Club.
The British No. 1 seed, who also won the WTA 250 event in 2025, became only the fifth player in tournament history to claim back-to-back titles. She did it the hard way — blowing through the first set in 25 minutes, then surviving a fierce Ferro comeback before prevailing in a tension-filled deciding tie-break.
Jones started in devastating fashion, breaking Ferro three times and dropping just one point on her own serve in a one-sided opening set. The Frenchwoman, winner of the Palermo edition in 2020, struggled to find her range as Jones dictated rallies with heavy forehands and scrambling defence. The bagel arrived in 25 minutes, and a second consecutive straight-sets win seemed inevitable.
But Ferro, seeded seventh, refused to fold. She raised her level dramatically at the start of the second set, breaking Jones in the second game with a beautifully executed drop-shot winner. The momentum shifted entirely as Ferro began mixing pace and spin effectively, forcing errors from a suddenly frustrated Jones. A single break proved enough as Ferro levelled the match at one set apiece.
The deciding set swung back and forth under heavy, humid conditions that tested both players physically. Jones pushed ahead early but could not shake her opponent. Ferro saved break points and conjured passing shots from impossible positions, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. A strange gust of wind swirled across Centre Court in the 12th game, adding another layer of chaos to an already unpredictable contest.
The final-set tie-break was a microcosm of the match itself. Jones edged ahead, Ferro clawed back. At 6-6, with both players cramping and gasping, Jones found one last running forehand pass that painted the line, earning championship point. When Ferro netted a backhand on the next rally, Jones collapsed to her knees in celebration.
"It means everything to be back here holding the trophy again," Jones said on court after the match. "Palermo is a special place for me. Fiona pushed me to the limit today — she's a warrior."
The victory lifts Jones inside the world's top 40 and confirms her status as one of the most improved players on the WTA Tour over the past 18 months. For Ferro, the runner-up finish represents a significant return to form after several seasons disrupted by injury and inconsistency.
Sources
- https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/07/26/wta-palermo-finale-epica-al-country-jones-centra-la-doppietta-sconfiggendo-ferro-nel-tiebreak-decisivo/
