Australia’s Maya Joint is being praised around the tennis world after an ‘amazing’ performance against Elina Svitolina at the US Open. The 20-year-old Joint ultimately lost 2-6 7-6 (8-6) 4-6, but showed why she’s regarded as a star in the making.
Playing against the ninth seed and a four-time grand slam semi-finalist, Joint overcame a nervous start to match it with Svitolina. She saved a match point in the second set to win it in a tie-breaker – the first time in her career that she took a set off a top-10 opponent.
Jelena Dokic was impressed by Maya Joint’s fight against Elina Svitolina at the US Open.
Svitolina then made a red-hot start to the third set and threatened to run away with it easily. But Joint showed some incredible grit to hang tough and save three more match points.
“That’s an amazing effort…and on we go in this final set,” Sam Smith said in commentary when Joint managed to survive. Jelena Dokic sung Joint’s praises after the match, saying: “It was an amazing match, they were really blasting the ball.
“There wasn’t much in it, just a bit of experience for Svitolina. (Joint is) young and I can’t wait to see more of her.”
Maya Joint was impressive despite losing to Elina Svitolina at the US Open. (Photo by Simon Bruty/USTA via Getty Images)
One pundit wrote on social media: “Maya Joint should take a lot of positives from the match against Elina despite the loss. She hasn’t had the best season but she really pushed Elina in this match, and was able to take a set off of a top-10 player for the first time.”
Another wrote: “Fighter Maya Joint is here! Even if she loses this, she’s so back. She would’ve won this easily if it’s not Elina.”
Alex de Minaur wins on dire day for Aussies at US Open
It was a fairly dire day for the Aussie tennis contingent in New York, with World No.7 Alex de Minaur the only winner. De Minaur won 6-2 6-2 6-4 over Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri in a match that was delayed until day four because of wet weather.
James Duckworth lost in straight sets to Wu Yibing of China, while Taylah Preston suffered the same fate against American player Taylor Townsend. Kim Birrell took a set off 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova before falling in three, while Paula Badosa completed her win over Daria Kasatkina after the match was postponed overnight with Badosa just two points from victory.