The 16-year-old Gold Coast sensation dropped a tight first set to American rival Thea Frodin but recovered to post a 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 win on Monday at Melbourne Park.
Fellow Australian Renee Alame didn't fare as well when she was knocked out in straight sets by 12th seed Alena Kovackova, 6-4 6-4.
Top seed Jones, who was beaten in the final last year, is attempting to become the first local girls' singles champion since Siobhan Drake-Brockman in 1995.
Third round bound 💪— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) Emerson Jones fights back from a set down to defeat Thea Frodin in the girl's junior singles. pic.twitter.com/2kZ5biZgpBJanuary 20, 2025
Jones's second-round win was another positive step in her junior campaign after her main draw debut, as a wildcard, resulted in a first-round defeat to sixth seed Elena Rybakina.
Cruz Hewitt, son of Lleyton, took on boys' singles top seed Czech Jan Kumstat later on Monday and fell 6-3 7-6 (9-7).
With his famous father and actress mother Bec among family members courtside, the 16-year-old battled bravely against Kumstat, who was runner-up in the tournament last year.
Cruz Hewitt impressed but couldn't get the better of boys top seed, Czech Jan Kumstat. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Hewitt junior worked his way into the match, with a vocal home crowd getting behind the youngster, who used his dad's trademark "C'mon" roar when he broke his rival to level at 4-4 in the second set.
He saved a match point in the tie-break then had his own set point at 7-6, but 18-year-old Kumstat was able to close it out.
Fellow Australians Duje Markovina and Ymerali Ibraimi are scheduled to play their second-round boys' singles matches on Tuesday.
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