AUSTRALIAN Emerson Jones has won the ITF Junior Finals in Chengdu over the weekend with the recent world number one living up to expectations by claiming the title. The Queensland talent – who reached two Junior Grand Slam finals this year – defeated Laura Samson in the final, backing up a bevy of impressive victories against top opponents.

Jones won previous titles in Traralgon and Milan which were J300 and J500 events respectively, while also finishing runner-up at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Her success in Chengdu put her in pole position to end the year as world number one, defeating Great Britain’s Mika Stojsavljevic, Chile’s Antonia Vergara Rivera, Belgium’s Jeline Vandromme and Japan’s Wakana Sonobe in the tournament.

In the final, Jones prevailed 6-4 6-4 over Samson and said she was “proud’ of what she was able to accomplish at the tournament.

“It’s a shock to me to win here,” Jones said post-match. “I’m proud of myself and the way I handled everything this week during the close matches. I am really happy with myself.

“I just tried to stay aggressive this week and I knew what I needed to do in terms of playing my own game. Mentally, I tried to be better because the first match I wasn’t great mentally so I tried to pick it up from there.

“I am proud of winning the final, tough to have lost some finals this year, but always great to get over the line.”

Meanwhile in the Junior Boys Finals, Dutchman Mees Rottgering finally cracked through for his first title of the year after falling short at Wimbledon and reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open as well. He defeated Spaniard Rafael Jodar in the final 6-4 7-6, seeking revenge on the US Open champion who had defeated him in the group stage.

Rottgering also defeated Jones’ brother Hayden, Czech Jan Kumstat and Romania’s Luca Preda on his way to the straight sets final win.

“It feels amazing,” Rottgering said. “The names I have heard that have played here and won makes me excited and it means a lot to me.

“Mentally, it was a tough match in the final. I faced some tough games in the first set, but I managed the match really well. This was my last junior tournament and I am happy to finish my junior career with a win.”