It was a humiliating end for the 16-year-old Australian joint hope at the Canadian Open on Wednesday, local time. In a hard-fought three set match, Joint fell to American player McCartney Kessler. The 19-year-old was looking to build off her monumental upset of local favorite Leylah Fernandez in the opening round. She sought to have a lasting impact on the tournament itself.
Joint’s earlier victory over Fernandez was powerful. The world No. 24 had just won the biggest title of her career at the Washington Open mere days before their matchup. Joint’s momentum found a tough test in Kessler who was up for the challenge, showing resilience in their match.
A Strong Start for Joint
Maya Joint got the match off to a great start winning a close first set 6-4. Her shot-making ability, fierce competitiveness, and confidence showed that she planned to storm right through her previous success at the Canadian Open and on toward even more success.
Although she was off to a great start, Kessler escalated with even greater fervor. The American player had an impressive performance against Joint, breaking the Dutchman’s serve four times throughout the match. On the other hand, Joint converted three of her break chances with authority. This back and forth exchange highlighted the competitive spirit both players possessed.
“I think I played a really solid match today,” – Iga Swiatek
When the second set played out, Kessler’s experience began to show through and would come away with the set and match final 6-4. Going into the third set, Kessler was riding high on her momentum. She yet again closed out the match strong, winning 6-3 and knocking Joint out of the tournament.
Ambitions for Grand Slam Success
Maya Joint’s journey in professional tennis thus far has been a story of early success and hopes for even bigger breakthroughs. This year, she’s already captured two WTA titles. This win shows that she has what it takes to be a very powerful player on the tour.
Only 19, Joint surprised everybody by making it to the second round at Flushing Meadows in 2024. In every other major tournament, he has failed to make it out of the group stage. She is intent on making her mark on the grand slam stage. Her convincing victory against Fernandez proved that she would be able to stand toe-to-toe with high-ranked competitors.
It’s those ambitions and aspirations for success on the world stage that keep Joint going. She’s focused and driven to continue crafting her game and leaving an indelible mark in future tournaments.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment of her recent loss, Joint’s performance at the Canadian Open reflects her growing capabilities as a young athlete. Though she lost a tough match to Kessler, the experience accrued from such competitive matches will serve her well as she continues to grow and evolve throughout her career.
The tennis community is still eagerly monitoring Joint’s progress, and most people look forward to her future triumphs on the WTA tour. Beyond performance, she is committed to skill development and strategy shaping. Few expect it to be long before she’s making deep runs in the biggest tournaments.
