London: No one gave Maya Joint a chance. At least anyone not Australian, or with a foot in Joint’s camp. They were wrong.
Faced with the daunting prospect of being Serena Williams’ first opponent back in her celebrated comeback as a 44-year-old mother-of-two – after almost four years away – Joint shocked the world with a 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 victory over the former world No.1.
There were no histrionics. That is not Joint’s style.
Instead, she rose her arms in triumph, shared a polite handshake with Williams then had a moment of introspection at her courtside chair as she soaked up a career-best win.
“I really don’t know what to say right now. I don’t know what just happened,” a disbelieving Joint said.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was up until like 2am just thinking about it. I forgot the warm-up, I don’t know what happened, my legs weren’t moving, and I don’t know how I got a pretty good start in the match.
“She has such an aura, she’s such a legend, and so many big names have played on this court. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so it’s crazy.”
Having twice been up a set and a break, Joint had every reason to drown in self-doubt as the American legend stormed back to snatch the second set, then go up a break herself in the final set. An already electrified crowd was beside itself by that stage.
Instead, everyone received a reality check.
Joint was the ascending star, not Williams, who became increasingly vulnerable in the latter stages of her career before she retired in defeat to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open.
Even so, it was remarkable how Joint continued to absorb a mountain of pressure. Equally, it was understandable – at least in hindsight – that Williams was unable to complete the job after so many years away from this cauldron.
It was brilliant sporting theatre: a giant of the sport still so respected and feared that the expectation was she would steamroll a rising star. Even Mirra Andreeva, Roland-Garros champion mere weeks ago, admitted she would not want to be in Joint’s position.
To most, the red-headed Australian string bean was live meat for Williams to demolish in a triumphant return to Wimbledon’s centre court, where she won seven of her 23 grand slam titles.
Almost everyone inside the stadium – outside Joint’s squad of blue-clad Tennis Australia support staff – were desperate for a Williams win, and they whipped themselves into a frenzy as the American legend staged a second-set comeback.
Fans jumped to their feet for a standing ovation at their first sight of Williams as she strode purposefully onto centre court, dwarfing Joint with her famed and still-imposing physique.
That is without even mentioning the even wider gulf in their on-court achievements.
The initial ovation lasted more than a minute, without a noticeable acknowledgment from a locked-in Williams, then the crowd roared again as she walked to the net for the coin toss, gyrating as she readied for battle with an opponent 24 years her junior.
The reaction was unlike anything else heard at this year’s Wimbledon championships, and the enthusiasm never dulled.
There was an understanding that this was a special occasion, even if the regularly star-filled Royal Box failed to drag out any mega celebrities.
Marc McGowan travelled to London with Tennis Australia’s support.
Watch Wimbledon from 7.30pm Monday (AEST) on the Nine Network and Stan Sport.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
