Teenager Maya Joint made her Australian Open debut last summer in what proved to be an impossible task.
The Australian appeared calm on Melbourne Park’s John Cain Arena against then world No. 6 Jessica Pegula – a player who reached the final of the US Open four months earlier.
Maya Joint in her round one match at the 2025 Australian Open.Credit: Getty Images
Joint was tenacious, aggressive and appeared to be enjoying herself on debut at her home slam in front of a few hundred fans. She lost in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0, to an experienced player who had been on tour for almost a decade.
But in the 12 months since Joint was granted a 2025 Australian Open wildcard, the 19-year-old has surged to No.32 in the world. She’s now Australia’s top-ranked female player and in line to appear at the 2026 Australian Open as a seeded player.
“It’s been an amazing year, a crazy ride, surreal,” she said.
“I have worked really hard this year, and I definitely feel a bit more pressure on me, and I am really proud to represent Australia, and the whole nation has really embraced me.”
A seeding at the Australian Open would mean Joint is guaranteed to avoid other ranked players until at least the third round.
“A lot has changed [since the Pegula match],” she said. “I am more experienced now. I have played on a couple more stadium courts and played against more top-20 players. I am more confident in myself and [my] abilities now.
“To be seeded would be amazing. It makes the draw easier on paper because you don’t need to play a seed first round, and it’s really special to be a seed at your home slam.”
Maya Joint won her second WTA singles title of the year at Eastbourne.Credit: Getty Images
After her loss to Pegula in January, Joint won her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 title, in Morocco in May, before winning a second at Eastbourne a month later.
Grand slam winner Emma Raducanu and top 20 players Diana Shnaider and Clara Tauson were among the opponents she got the better of throughout the year. She also competed in the main draw at each of the four grand slams for the first time.
Now it’s time for Joint to take the next step, and start getting wins against top-ranked opponents. It’s a mission that is guaranteed to be tested in January, with Joint set to represent Australia at the United Cup alongside Alex de Minaur.
With Australia drawn in a group with Czechia and Norway for the opening round of the mixed teams event, Joint is guaranteed to face two-time grand slam singles champion Barbora Krejcikova.
“I never played [her] before, so I think it will be a really competitive match – we are both really going to want to win for ourselves and for our country,” Joint said.
“Playing a top player like Barbora Krejcikova is really good experience and great practice for what I will face at the Australian Open.”
At the tournament draw last month, former world No.4 Jelena Dokic said the event was ideal preparation for Joint heading into the summer.
“The spotlight will be on her whatever tournament she plays, but this event is actually really good for her because she’s guaranteed to have at least two singles matches, and that’s really important going into the summer of tennis and going into the Australian Open,” Dokic said.
Most players are vague when asked about their aspirations, but Joint has a very specific list of goals she wants to tick off in 2026 and is clear about the progression she expects from herself.
“I would like to win a 500 event, get to the fourth round of a Masters 1000 and third round of a grand slam, and work on my game,” she said.
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