SLOVAKIAN wunderkind Renata Jamrichova dashed Aussie hopes for the second time in 2024, defeating Emerson Jones in the Wimbledon junior girls singles final to cement her place as one of the stars of the future. Ranked number two in the world, Jamrichova added the Wimbledon title to her Australian Open trophy from earlier this year, a final which also saw the 17-year-old defeat Jones in straight sets.

The dangerous left-hander won 6-3 6-4 against Jones in a more challenging final than her 6-4 6-1 triumph over the world number three back in January. Having turned 17 last month, Jamrichova also won two ITF Tour titles and is a four-time Junior Grand Slam winner with two doubles titles in the French Open this year and at Melbourne Park last year.

Up to 546th in the world, Jamrichova was incredible against Jones, declaring it “one of the greatest” matches she had played on the junior circuit.

“I’m just so happy and grateful right now that I can have this memory of playing my last junior tournament here in such a beautiful atmosphere in this amazing court and against Emerson,” Jamrichova said post-match.

“It was one of the greatest junior matches I’ve ever played. I think I’m getting better as a person off court and on court every day and that’s what’s important I think.”

Friends off the court, the pair are sure to have many more matches, with the 180cm Jamrichova towering over the smaller Jones, and boasting a far more powerful serve which proved the difference. The Slovakian produced six aces to two without a double fault, while winning 74 and 67 per cent of her first and second serve points.

By comparison, Jones is not known for easy points off her serve, and instead relies on a powerful forehand that produces a lot of winners. She hit only two less winners than her opponent (18-20) but also seven more unforced errors (18-11), with Jamrichova making few mistakes during the straight sets win.

Jones was not without her chances, breaking in the fourth game of the second set, she went ahead 3-1, only for Jamrichova to break back and win five of the last six games to close out the match, 6-3 6-4.