Maya Joint, the quietly spoken Australian tennis prodigy, has made remarkable strides in her career, culminating in her first grand slam match win at the 2024 US Open. At the beginning of the year, she barely held a ranking inside the top 700 but has surged to the brink of the top 100, currently standing as the highest-ranked Australian women’s player at No. 32.
This impressive ascent also led Joint to reconsider her initial decision to attend the University of Texas, ultimately forgoing $210,000 in prize money due to strict NCAA regulations. The decision proved wise as she captured her maiden WTA singles titles at Eastbourne and Rabat in the past year, establishing herself as a player to watch. As a result of her achievements, Joint is set to be seeded for the first time at the upcoming Australian Open.
Joint expressed her pride in her accomplishments, acknowledging the heightened expectations that come with her new ranking. “I feel a bit more pressure and expectations from other people, but it’s something I worked really hard for,” she stated. This season’s Australian tennis summer will mark a significant change for her, as she experiences a surge in attention from the media and the public, which is noticeably different from her previous ranking around 700 where expectations were minimal.
She continues to embrace her journey, noting that the pressure she feels now is primarily self-imposed. “You just go out there and play, with no expectations… whereas now, you feel it matters,” Joint explained. Her newfound status allowed her to join top-10 star Alex de Minaur as part of Team Australia at the United Cup. Last year, she achieved her goal of representing Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup, an experience that highlighted her rapid growth in the sport.
Her ambitious journey has seen her face top-tier players like Iga Swiatek, Barbora Krejcikova, and Mirra Andreeva, challenging herself to improve her game. “I need to work on my serve, and that’s a big thing I’ve noticed when I play the good players,” she acknowledged. Joint’s family, including her parents and relatives, are amazed at her swift rise and are excitedly supporting her as she begins her campaign against Czech teenager Tereza Valentova.
Joint has set both on-court and off-court goals for the year, signaling her readiness to take on the challenges ahead. With unwavering support from her family and a commitment to improvement, Joint aims to continue her ascent in the tennis world, promising an exhilarating journey for fans and supporters alike as she navigates this new chapter in her career.