Queenslander Emerson Jones finishes runner-up in Australian Open girls' final
Exciting 15-year-old prospect Emerson Jones, the daughter of Olympic medal-winning triathlete Loretta Harrop, has finished runner-up to Slovakian top seed Renata Jamrichova in the girls' final of the Australian Open.
Jones, 15, went down 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday at Melbourne Park.
After winning her quarterfinal and semifinal on a gruelling Friday schedule, Jones was second best to Jamrichova.
But the teenager was still chuffed to have earned the chance to play on Rod Laver Arena.
"Thank you to everyone that supported me throughout the week," Jones told the crowd.
"It was an amazing experience with the crowds and everything.
"And congratulations to Renata. You totally deserved it."
Coached by David Taylor, the long-time former mentor to grand slam champion Samantha Stosur and other stars including Alicia Molik, Martina Hingis and Naomi Osaka, Jones is considered one of the next big things in Australian tennis.
Her mother won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and her 17-year-old brother Hayden made the quarterfinals of the boys' Australian singles this week.
AAP/ABC