“Sending her by herself was never an option for us": How an Olympic mom safeguards the 'next Ash Barty' from the WTA tour's loneliness

Rising Australian tennis star Emerson Jones is currently ranked No. 151 in the world and has secured a wildcard entry to the Brisbane International and Australian Open. But for her mother, Olympic triathlon silver medalist Loretta Harrop, the focus is less on the ranking points and more on the toll the sport takes on a 17-year-old. While Jones could have been an elite athlete in any sport she wanted, she fell in love with tennis, a choice that Harrop recognizes as a potentially "lonely mission" on the global circuit.

Born to Harrop and Brad Jones, a talented Australian rules football player, Emerson’s natural ability was never in doubt. She was a champion gymnast and representative swimmer, yet she bypassed the family trade of endurance sports to chase a ball. Harrop admits she was initially surprised by the decision, noting, “I still say to her now, which she hates, are you sure you don’t want to switch to triathlon?” she said to Herald Sun.

However, the transition to the professional level has come with significant social sacrifices that worry her parents. Jones has been traveling globally since she was 12, and while her school is flexible, her teenage life is far from normal. “I don’t really have my school friends any more,” Jones admitted regarding the isolation. “I have a lot of tennis friends... but it can get lonely sometimes, especially stepping into the women’s tour.”

Harrop observed her daughter's intense nature early on, realizing that this drive needed to be managed carefully to preserve her well-being. “She was really sporty, she did a lot of sports growing up and she was always really competitive,” Harrop said. “It was just flat out... she just smacked the ball as hard as she could. That was just her personality.”

To ensure Emerson never faces the isolation of the tour alone, the family has structured their entire lives around her schedule. Harrop and Brad Jones take turns traveling with her to every tournament, a non-negotiable rule they established to protect her mental state.

“Sending her by herself was never an option for us, we’ve always made sure one of us is with her,” Harrop explained. The goal is to create a buffer against the solitude of the women's competition. “It’s important she stays happy and mentally in a good happy state and we don’t want her to get lonely because she is so young playing in the women’s competition.”

Harrop believes this level of support is the defining factor in a young athlete's success and safety. “It doesn’t really matter if your kid is doing what Emerson’s doing or trying to achieve what she is trying to achieve, the commitment from the parents is huge to help these kids, achieve their dreams, keep them safe and healthy.”

This emotional safety net has allowed Jones to face high-pressure situations with a clear head. Even after a 1-6, 1-6 loss to world No. 6 Elena Rybakina at the 2025 Australian Open, Jones remained unfazed, viewing the experience as a benchmark rather than a failure.

“I don’t think it is scary. There’s no pressure on me. I just go play my best tennis and always try to step up my game and my level every match,” Jones said. She draws confidence from previous successes, such as beating the world No. 37 in Adelaide. “I also like to see how they play and where my level is at.”

While the media is quick to compare her to Ash Barty, Jones is determined to walk her own path, secure in the support system her family has built around her. “It would be pretty tricky to do what she has done. I’m on my own journey,” Jones said. “I’m just going to keep at my own game and my own journey and see where I can get myself.”