Francesca Jones secured the biggest win of her career as she knocked out second seed Emma Navarro 7-5 2-6 6-4 in Auckland.
The British number three was playing her first tour-level match against a top 50 player but showed no signs of faltering as she edged past Navarro.
After losing the second set, Jones rallied back in the deciding set to secure a monumental win as she continues to climb up the rankings.
The world number 72 after the match admitted she is ‘knackered’ after defeating the world number 15, “I’m absolutely knackered, for the first match of the year I didn’t make it easy,” Jones told The Independent.
“I couldn’t have asked for more really, but obviously, the result is amazing. For me, the main thing is just trying to start the year with a good attitude, which is always difficult. Everyone’s nervous and not feeling their best.
“Trying to get ready for the season is really complicated – it’s about finding your feet. For me, it was having the right attitude and thankfully I had that.”
As for Navarro it was a disappointing result as she will need to have some deep runs at big tournaments if she wants to keep her top 20 status by the end of the season.
In the other night session match in Auckland Sloane Stephens made her return to tennis after missing most of the 2025 season.
The former US Open champion lost 5-7 6-4 6-2 to tricky Mexican Renata Zarazua in a match that went after midnight local time.
It means Stephens has lost 13 consecutive matches and will need to improve her record soon if she wants to improve her ranking.
In doubles Elina Svitolina and Venus Williams lost in straight sets to Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic.
Both Williams and Svitolina are in action on Tuesday when they face Magda Linette and Varvara Gracheva respectively in singles action.
