The soaring Gold Coast wildcard, arguably Australia's best women's tennis prospects since Ash Barty was roaring through the junior ranks, didn't know what to think when she learned she'd landed a glamour maiden clash in the Paris main draw against four-time champion Iga Swiatek.
And though her instant reaction was to sigh 'here we go again with my draw' as she contemplated a third-straight brutal first-round examination at a grand slam, she quickly told herself: "I'm still going to try to go out there to win -- I'm not going to completely write myself off."
Why would she? For in a season when the former world junior No.1 has already achieved so much, winning her first WTA 1000 and BJK Cup matches, lifting a W75 title in Brisbane and earlier this month reaching a W100 final in Japan, she's ruling out nothing with this latest "pinch me" moment.
"Firstly, just to get the wildcard, it's so exciting, especially because it's my first main draw at the French Open, so, yeah, I'm super excited," explained Jones, who's the youngest player in the world's top 150.
"This definitely would be a 'pinch me' moment, playing the world No.3 at the French Open. I definitely have to take in everything and I'm super excited because not many 17-year-olds get to do this and play against these players. It's definitely great for experience and learning."
At the same time, she couldn't help thinking that she's had the rough end of the draws at each of the grand slams she's now competed in, having drawn 2026 Australian Open champ Elena Rybakina on her Melbourne debut in 2025 and 16th seed Victoria Mboko there this year.
She believes it definitely helps to have played those two matches, even though they edned in comprehensive defeats. "So it's probably not such a shock anymore, because I have played those two, who are at the top. It's definitely a great experience, you get to learn a lot of things."
Jones, the daughter of 2004 Olympic triathlon silver medallist Loretta Harrop and former Aussie Rules player Brad Jones, could be given a date on Roland Garros's Court Philippe Chatrier against the six-time grand slam champ Swiatek, who's looking to regain her crown from Coco Gauff.
"I don't even think I've seen the court yet, so it'd be pretty exciting. You hope you get to play on that, it's going to be great," smiled the youngster, who reckoned she hadn't had decent practice back home because rain had soaked the clay courts there.
So how will she go about tackling the 24-year-old Pole, who at times down the years in Paris has enjoyed a Rafa Nadal-like aura on the clay?
"Obviously I've watched her matches and everything, but to be honest, I just need to do everything like the best I can," said Jones.
"There's probably no excuses. I've just got to go out there and try to do everything at my 100 percent."
