Venus Williams vs. Francesca Jones Prediction, Odds and Best Bets (WTA Miami Open 2026, Round of 128, March 18)

Can Venus secure her first singles victory of 2026?

The American icon Venus Williams will look to open her account in the current season against rising British starlet Francesca Jones in Round-1 of the 2026 Miami Open. The 45-year-old has lost five opening round encounters so far this year, and turns to a tournament that she has won on three previous occasions. Meanwhile, Jones prepares for one of the biggest tests of her young career. The winner of this clash is set to take on No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula in the Round of 64 at the Hard Rock Tennis Stadium. Continue reading to know more about the stats and odds ahead of this marquee duel.

Venus Williams on fire early in Austin 🔥

Her vintage backhand pass 😮‍💨 #ATXOpen pic.twitter.com/KtUJeJWO11
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 24, 2026

Former World No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been on the wrong end of some narrow losses in 2026. The former Olympic gold medalist has a singles record of 819-286 throughout her career, including 49 championship runs. At 45, Williams remains a feared opposition for the WTA’s top guns. On the other hand, 25-year-old Francesca Jones is currently the British No. 4 in the WTA Rankings. Having begun the campaign with a quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic, she currently has a 2-4 record. Jones is currently ranked No. 93 in the world, as compared to Venus Williams who is the World No. 517.

YES! Francesca Jones battles on through to the Auckland quarter-finals 🙌

From a set and a break down, she beats Sinja Kraus 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/GwqwojUprB
— LTA (@the_LTA) January 7, 2026

According to the tennis betting odds on BetMGM, Francesca Jones (-190) is the favorite of the two players in terms of winning this opening round encounter. On the other hand, Venus Williams (+150) is the underdog in the betting market ahead of this clash. Here’s how we are betting on this Round of 128 battle at the WTA Miami Open 2026, including our best bets, supporting odds and a set-score prop for bigger prices.

Tournament & Round: WTA Miami Open 2026, Round of 128
Surface: Outdoor Hard Court
Format: Women’s Singles, Best of Three Sets
Date & Start Time: March 18,
Court: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Best Bet: Total Sets >2.5 @ +155 as per BetMGM

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Venus Williams vs Francesca Jones Betting Odds

Given below are the latest odds for Venus Williams vs Francesca Jones from the top sportsbooks. We are looking at the match money line, game handicap and total games, plus some set betting markets where available.

Market	BetMGM	FanDuel
Moneyline	Williams (+150), Jones (-190)	Williams (+158), Jones (-192)
Game Handicap	Williams +3.5 (-121), Jones -3.5 (-108)
Total Games	>20.5 (-124), <20.5 (-106)
Set Betting	Jones 2-0 (+114), Williams 2-0 (+290)

Venus Williams vs Francesca Jones Predictions & Picks

Our Pick: Total Sets Over 2.5 at +155 Odds.

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The first serve of Venus Williams gives her a boost in the betting market, with the total breaks going down due to the same. There is an anticipation that the American veteran could snatch at least a set when she has energy in the tank. Currently serving with a 64% success rate on first serves, Williams can cause some damage. Yet, Jones has significantly improved her court coverage and has superior endurance. She must ensure that she isn’t too passive in the attempt to extend the rallies, as Williams is a master of pouncing on minor openings.

Expect plenty of fine angles and drop shots in this match-up. When it comes to return statistics, the former Wimbledon champion has been struggling to dominate vs first serves and convert her break points. Once she goes on the back foot, there is a tendency for her to give up on the point. The key for the Briton will be to stay away from playing too many neutral balls, and push Williams laterally. However, we believe that the power vs agility duel will lead to this match going into a deciding set.

Venus Williams Recent Form

Indian Wells 2026: Round of 128
ATX Open Austin 2026: Round of 32
Australian Open 2026: Round of 128
Hobart International 2026: Round of 32
ASB Classic Auckland 2026: Round of 32

Francesca Jones Recent Form

Indian Wells 2026: Round of 128
ATX Open Austin 2026: Round of 32
Australian Open 2026: Round of 128
ASB Classic Auckland 2026: Quarterfinal

Venus Williams vs Francesca Jones Head to Head Record

The head-to-head record between Venus Williams and Francesca Jones is currently 0-0. There is no available history of their rivalry on the WTA Tour. The Miami Open 2026 Round of 128 is set to be their first meeting on the circuit.

How to Watch Venus Williams vs Francesca Jones at the WTA Miami Open 2026?

The WTA Miami Open 2026 can be streamed live on various platforms and channels, depending on which part of the world you are watching from. This includes Tennis Channel, WTA TV, TSN, DAZN, ESPN International, beIN Sports, Setanta Sports, Sky Sports and SuperSport.

Serena Williams is in attendance to watch Venus compete in Miami.

Proud little sis. ❤️

pic.twitter.com/n1TAfH1z32
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 19, 2024

Date	March 18, 2026
Time
Tournament	WTA Miami Open, Round of 128
Surface	Outdoor Hard Court
Court	Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
TV/Streaming	Tennis Channel, WTA TV, TSN, DAZN, ESPN International, beIN Sports, Setanta Sports, Sky Sports, SuperSport

(Image Credits: Andy Abeyta, Imagn Images)

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.