Chambana Sun

The Illini men's tennis team, led by head coach Brad Dancer, has announced the signing of Hayden Jones, an accomplished Australian tennis player, to their 2025 class. Jones will join the University of Illinois in the fall of 2025 under a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement.

"We are excited to have Hayden and his family join the Illini," said Dancer. "We are impressed by the meticulous approach Hayden took in the recruiting process. This is a young man who is filled with drive and determination. Hayden's competitive spirit will pay big dividends for the Illini, and we are looking forward to coaching Hayden and helping him grow toward becoming a top ATP professional."

Jones, from Gold Coast, Australia, has achieved a career-high junior ITA ranking of No. 8 globally. His ATP rankings include No. 970 in singles and No. 602 in doubles. He also received wild-card entries into singles qualifying for the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and was named the 2024 Australian Tennis Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

Jones represented Australia at the 2022 Junior Davis Cup when he was 16, leading the team to a sixth-place finish. His participation in all four junior Grand Slam events includes a quarterfinal finish at the 2024 Australian Open Junior Championships and a doubles semifinal appearance at the 2023 US Open Junior Championships.

Together with his sister Emerson, the top-ranked junior female player, Jones secured a wild card for the 2025 Australian Open mixed doubles draw. He has participated in 10 junior Grand Slam events and claimed a professional doubles title at M25 Swan Hill in March 2024.

"I chose Illinois because I felt like the coaching team will help me improve my game," Jones stated. "I know I can have a positive impact within the team environment, and I look forward to joining the team this fall."

Jones is the fourth member of Illinois' 2025 signing class, joining David Bakonyi, Sasha Colleu, and Adam Jilly.