Britain’s Francesca Jones to face Venus Williams at Miami Open, Sonai Kartar likely to face Emma Laducanu

British player Fran Jones faces American star Venus Williams in the first round of the Miami Open, while British players Emma Laducanu and Sonai Kartar may face each other for the first time in the second round.

Williams, 45, became the second-oldest woman to win a WTA tour-level singles match last July when she defeated Payton Stearns at the Washington Open.

Since then, the seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 has lost eight of eight singles matches, most recently to France’s Diane Parry in the first round at Indian Wells.

Williams is ranked 517th in the women’s rankings, while Jones, 25, is ranked 93rd.

Kartal, who impressed in reaching the last 16 at Indian Wells but pulled out with a back injury against Elena Rybakina, will face Stearns in the first round of the Miami Open starting on Tuesday.

If Kartal wins, he will play his first professional match against Raducanu, who was defeated in the third round at Indian Wells and received a first-round bye at the Miami Open.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka won the tournament in Indian Wells and will face American Ann Lee or qualifier in the second round of the Miami Open.