British star explains 'extravagant plans' for how he'll spend Wimbledon prize money

Jack Pinnington Jones hopes his Wimbledon prize money will help to propel his career as a professional. The British player was knocked out of the tournament in straight sets in the second round by world No.24 Flavio Cobolli, but feels his first taste of a Grand Slam could be a springboard to bigger things.

The 22-year-old was beaten 6-1, 7-6, 6-2 on Thursday to exit the tournament. Italian Cobolli was the highest-ranked player he’d ever faced in his career and there was still a considerable silver lining to the loss.

Pinnington Jones only recently turned professional, dropping out of his course at the Texas Christian University to pursue his tennis career full-time. And, having previously earned just over £32,000 in prize money during his short career, he banked £99,000 for beating Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Court 17 earlier in the week.

Asked if he had any extravagant plans for his prize money, he replied: “Extravagant plans... I haven't got a clue! I'm more than happy. I still live with my parents in Cobham and my three sisters. Maybe move out there. That would be nice to get my own place.

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“I think obviously for me, I'm looking at it as an investment in my tennis. It's peanuts to what tennis players can make, for me top 50 in the world, wherever you want to be. I'm looking at it as an investment in myself and my career and my team around me.

“Whether that's hiring a physio on the road or having my coach for certain weeks or blocks, whatever it may be, that's what I'm sort of looking at it as.

“It's obviously amazing that I've been given the opportunity to be able to play here and win a round. It's almost double the prize money. That's amazing. As I said, it's a weight off my back knowing that I can fund my tennis myself without going through my parents. You know, that's huge to me.”

Currently ranked 281st in the world, Pinnington Jones is aiming to break into the top 100 in the coming years. On the prize money, he added: “[It’s] an investment in my tennis. If I believe I need more focus on the physical training side, I'm going to invest in a trainer to have him maybe on the road at some tournaments so I can train if I lose early, little things like that.

“If it's injury risk, maybe a physio or traveling with my coach more weeks and developing that side of things. For me, yeah, I want to be a top-100 tennis player in the world. I want to try and maximize my potential. For me it's an investment.

“Whatever that may be, I don't know right now what I'm going to invest it in towards my tennis, whether that's racquets, whatever. For me that's what I want to put the money towards, and hopefully it will pay off in the long run if I fulfil my potential where I think I could be.”