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' 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, also features in juniors action on Monday when he takes on boys' singles top seed Jan Kumstat.
Hewitt was a comfortable first-round winner when he swept aside Koreen qualifier MooBeen Kim 6-3 6-3, as his famous father sat courtside.
Fellow Australians Duje Markovina and Ymerali Ibraimi are scheduled to play their second-round boys' singles matches on Tuesday.
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