FRANCESCA Jones played her first match on grass in nearly two years at the LTA’s Nottingham Open yesterday.

But sadly for the Oxenhope prospect, it ended in a 4-6 6-3 6-4 defeat to Spaniard Georgina Garcia Perez.

Jones is one of 12 players on the LTA’s Pro Scholarship Programme (PSP) which is the highest level of coaching, medical and financial support offered to developing players by the national governing body.

It is offered to players aged between 16 and 24 with the best chance of reaching the ATP/WTA top 100 singles within five years.

Jones was part of a stellar entry list for the WTA 250 level tournament in Nottingham, including 2017 champion Donna Vekic, two-time finalist Johanna Konta and British No.2 Heather Watson.

But her hopes of victory ended early despite taking the first set, with Garcia Perez dominating on both the ace count and her first serve.