British tennis athlete Fran Jones collapsed during the final set of her match at the Colsanitas Cup in Colombia and was rushed off the court in a wheelchair.
The athlete was up against Argentina’s Julia Riera in the first round of the tournament when the incident happened while she was preparing to serve, with a score of 5-3 in the third set. Jones was seen clutching her head in pain and immediately received on-court treatment from the medical staff. After a few moments, she was safely assisted into a wheelchair and was taken for professional assessment after being forced to retire from the match.
Her sudden collapse mid-match has sparked concerns about her health.
A fan posted on social media: “Fran Jones collapsed on court in Bogota and had to retire. Really scary to see. My prayers are with her.”
Fran Jones collapsed on court in Bogota and had to retire. Really scary to see, my prayers are with her 🙏 pic.twitter.com/P5ktrDf4Ep
— Owen (@kostekcanu) April 2, 2025
Netizens expressed their concerns and speculations on what happened with one commenting, “High altitude? I hope she doesn’t have a ‘culprit’ haemoglobin variant. My prayers are with her.”
Another netizen said, “Hmm, looking at that scoreline brings other ideas to mind but if she truly collapsed due to health issues then my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family”
Unfortunately, others did not believe that she collapsed. One commenter remarked, “Putting your hands down carefully, whilst adjusting your hat after you fell doesn’t scream collapsing to me. Seems like she has previous for these too. Hopefully, the medical teams find out what’s wrong and why it happens at certain moments of matches.”
Born with a condition
Jones, currently British No. 5, was known to have an in-born rare condition called Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia Syndrome. She was born without two fingers and three toes and was advised by doctors to give up her professional tennis career because of her condition. Due to her determination, she still made a name for herself in tennis despite all the challenges and setbacks.
She collapsed during a tournament is in Bogota, Colombia, which is an area approximately 2,640 metres (8,660 feet) above sea level. Even though it remains unclear whether the setting played a role in Jones’ condition, high altitude can cause difficulties for athletes and can affect their stamina and game performance.
In a statement, the tournament organisers said, “Due to a physical issue, Francesca Jones has withdrawn from her match against Julia Riera at 6-2 5-7 5-3 in favour of the Argentinian. We wish the British tennis player a speedy recovery.”
Previously, Jones made it through the first round of Wimbledon twice, in 2021 and 2024. She also competed in the opening round of the Australian Open in 2021. However, she has not advanced beyond the qualifying stages of the French Open and the US Open.
Back in 2021, Jones shared how her medical condition has shaped her as an athlete. She said, “I’ve had experiences that many haven’t at my age, and I think that’s moulded me into the person I am today. It will have had an impact on my mental strength and my mentality and mindset as a whole, but I am sure everyone goes through hardship and deals with adversity in their own way. Everyone’s story makes a person who they are.”