OXENHOPE tennis star Francesca Jones produced a remarkable run in Colombia, and will hope to reignite her career as a result.

She was eventually beaten in straight sets in the semi-final of the Copa Colsanitas by Tatjana Maria after a lengthy rain delay in Bogota.

World number 817 Jones had already upset seeds Nuria Parrizas Diaz and Laura Pigossi on her way to the last four and was aiming to reach her first WTA final.

However, for the 22-year-old - who suffers from a congenital condition which means she has three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on one foot and four toes on the other - her clash against defending champion Maria proved a step too far.

Even so, the tournament will come as a massive boost to hot prospect Jones, who only returned to action in January after 12 months out with three separate injuries to her elbow, shoulder and foot.

That lay-off had seen her drop down the rankings from world number 149, with Bogota marking her first main-level tournament since Wimbledon 2021.

She will break into the world's top 400 as a result of this run in Colombia.

It was always going to be a tough ask against second seed Maria in the semis, who broke early to open up a 3-0 lead.

Maria, the world number 66, broke again in the next game and looked on course to swiftly wrap up the first set.

Jones, though, rallied with a break of her own in the seventh game and then held to reduce the deficit at 3-5, but her opponent served out for the set in 44 minutes.

At the start of the second set, Jones, who came through the LTA's Pro Scholarship Programme, produced an important hold and then broke Maria to lead 2-0.

The veteran German quickly broke back in the next game and the set remained on serve at 4-3 to Jones when rain forced the players off court.

When the match eventually resumed, it was Maria who took the upper hand again with a determined hold before then breaking Jones in the ninth game and serving out the match for a 6-3 6-4 victory.