ROME/STARNBERG, July 20, 2026
Francesca Jones is the new champion of the ATV Bancomat Tennis Open in Rome. In front of a packed crowd at the Circolo Antico Tiro a Volo, the Briton produced a superb performance to defeat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-1 in the final and lift the third WTA 125 trophy of her career, following her victories in Contrexeville and Palermo last year.
Jones, the tournament’s third seed, was in control from the opening points and once again proved too strong for Bronzetti, repeating the success she had achieved against the Italian earlier this season in Wiesbaden. Her aggressive and consistent tennis brought an end to Bronzetti’s excellent run in the Italian capital and earned Jones a place in the prestigious roll of honour of the tournament, which has just completed its 16th edition.
The victory will see Jones climb to No. 113 in the WTA Rankings on Monday, while Bronzetti will also make significant progress, rising 19 places to No. 120 in the world.
Speaking during the trophy ceremony, Jones delighted the Roman crowd by addressing them in Italian before reflecting on a memorable week.
“I played two fantastic matches against the strongest players and fought hard when I needed to against the others,” she said. “I’m incredibly happy to win this title. Lucia and her team did an amazing job this week, and we both played great tennis throughout the tournament, regardless of our current rankings.”
The title also had a special meaning for Jones because her coach, Lourdes Dominguez Lino, who was absent this week, won the tournament back in 2010.
“I remembered that when I saw her photo here,” Jones joked. “Now they’ll have to put up a bigger picture of me!”
Looking ahead, the 24-year-old said the win brings her closer to a return to the Top 100 after a difficult start to the season caused by a right-leg injury.
“This victory is important because it moves me closer to the Top 100, although I’ll soon have to defend the title I won in Palermo last year. If I can finish the year back inside the Top 100, I’ll be very happy. It would mean a lot after the injury that stopped me earlier this season, shortly after I achieved my best ranking, close to the Top 70.”
