Maya Joint, Australia’s highest-ranked female player, is just 19 years old. She’s been put on bed rest due to illness, making her status for the fast approaching United Cup quite questionable. Currently ranked 32nd in the world, Joint’s influence was sorely missed during Australia’s withdrawn practice and media availability on Friday. Team captain Lleyton Hewitt was optimistic that she would make a quick recovery. She is aiming to be fit for her quarterfinal match against Norway’s Malene Helgo Saturday night.
Joint’s meteoric ascent through the WTA tennis ranks has been remarkable. She started last year ranked outside the top 100, but in the interim has won titles in Morocco and Eastbourne. This past summer, she made headlines by reaching the second round of the US Open as a qualifier, showcasing her talent and determination. In 2023, she made a trade to represent Australia instead. Originally from the Central Coast of New South Wales, now based in Brisbane, she has recently established herself as one of the prominent voices within Australian tennis.
Recovery Efforts Underway
As Joint continues to recover, Hewitt said it is critical to give her plenty of time to rebuild her strength. He added that she’s focusing on rest and sleep right now in order to get her health to the matches coming up.
“We’re just trying to give her the best chance of having 100 per cent energy when she goes out there to play.” – Lleyton Hewitt
Hewitt is hopeful that Under Joint’s current very bad status—at worst, potentially a short-lived contagious disease. He noted, “Hopefully it’s only a 24-hour thing and she can bounce back tomorrow.” The team is ready to pivot her involvement as needed, highlighting their focus on her health and safety above all else.
“Fingers crossed she gets the chance. If not, then we’ll re-evaluate.” – Lleyton Hewitt
Ambitions for the Future
Though she suffered a big blow this week, Joint has no shortage of lofty aspirations to fulfill in her professional lifetime. Her medium-term goal is reaching the third round of a grand slam by 2026.
“My goal would be to make the third round of a grand slam,” – Maya Joint
Joint Humble Joint recognizes that reaching this goal will take commitment to honing her craft. “That’s a big goal … if I work on my own game then other goals will set themselves up,” she stated, reflecting her focus on personal development as a player.
Australia is preparing for the new United Cup. The team believes that Joint’s talent and competitive fire will be evident as soon as she gets healthy. Leadership through her presence on the court will prove a vital asset as they go head-to-head on this international stage.
A Bright Future Ahead
For Maya Joint, these kinds of steps in professional tennis are only the beginning. Yet her accomplishments to date have provided a strong base for ongoing triumph. Joint’s higher goals could soon become a reality with support from her team and ongoing dedication to her health and training.
