"Trying to make the top 100 is a goal we'd love to crack" - Aussie talent Emerson Jones dismisses comparisons to Barty after impressive Brisbane International showing

The world of tennis is constantly churning out young but talented sensations, destined for a hugely successful career in the sport. The latest one is currently making a name for herself in her home country of Australia, with 17-year-old Emerson Jones brimming with confidence after a positive showing in the Brisbane International.

She was one of the local players being cheered on by the Aussie fanbase closely monitoring their players progress. They would be very pleased with Jones displays in Brisbane, with her beginning the year with an impressive 6-3, 6-3 triumph over the world number 43 Tatjana Maria. Her campaign would come to a swift conclusion when facing off against Liudmila Samsonova, with the number 10 seed derailing Jones' competition 6-4, 6-1.

The signs were there for everyone to see of the immense talent she possesses, with her looking to continue this as the season goes on. "It is going to give me more confidence to be honest," Jones stated. "That (round-one victory) is the second top-50 win of my life and this is my second time against a top-20 player."

The matches she is currently playing will be crucial in her development, as she underlines her overall target for the year. "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," she acknowledged. "By the end of last year, my coach and I wanted to crack the top 150 and it was great that I got to do that right at the end. Definitely, trying to make the top 100 (this year) is a goal we'd love to crack."

Ashleigh Barty is one of Australia's greatest tennis players. She won three Grand Slam titles and was the former world number one. An abrupt retirement from the sport in 2022 after finally lifting the Australian Open was a fitting end, but a surprising one with her only 25-years-old.

Jones has been compared to Barty, which is something that as honoured as she is, she wants to stride away from this image and make her own legacy in the sport. "I've had that (comparison) for a while, since last year. It doesn't really put any pressure on me," Jones said. "Everyone compares me to Ash but Ash has her own journey and I think she did absolutely amazing. It would be amazing to achieve what she did. I focus on myself and that definitely works for me."

Jones is so young that she still has to deal with school on the side of being a professional tennis player. She has one more year of high school to deal with, but has asserted that tennis is on the forefront of her mind.

"Hopefully I am going to get given a lot of opportunities this summer ... and in the middle of the year," she said. "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. I don't want to touch books after that. I am just going to focus on my tennis. I am doing a pretty good job of it all, handling myself."

Jones is set to make a return to the Australian Open after debuting there last year. She had a tough test in the form of Elena Rybakina, with the Kazakh comfortably fending off Jones. She will be hoping for better in Melbourne this year.