At 19 years and 5 days old, Maya Joint became the youngest Australian woman to win a WTA 1000 match, surpassing Ashleigh Barty’s record set in 2017.
Joint triumphed at the Madrid Open, defeating Spanish wildcard Carlota Martinez Cirez 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in her tour-level clay-court main draw debut.
A Global Talent with Australian Roots
Born on April 16, 2006, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, to an Australian father, professional squash player Michael Joint, and a German mother, Maya chose to represent Australia in 2023.
Relocating to Brisbane, she trained at Tennis Australia’s National Tennis Academy alongside top juniors like Emerson Jones. This move fast-tracked her development, propelling her from a world ranking of No. 684 in early 2024 to a career-high No. 80 by March 2025. She’s currently at 79 in the live rankings.
Breaking Barty’s Record
Joint’s victory over Martinez Cirez in Madrid broke Barty’s record, set at the Miami Open when Barty was 20 years and 330 days old. In a 2:07 battle, Joint dominated the first set 6-2 with aggressive baseline play. Despite losing the 2nd, she rallied in the decider, breaking serve at 4-4 to clinch the match. The win, following victories over quality players, in Sara Errani and Jil Teichmann in qualifying, should give her the world of confidence heading towards Roland Garros.
A String of Breakthroughs
Joint’s Madrid triumph continues a swift rise. In 2024, she debuted at the US Open, defeating Laura Siegemund before falling to Madison Keys. Earlier, she became the youngest Australian to win an ITF 75 title in Burnie, vaulting into the top 400.
In 2025, she reached the Hobart International semifinals, upsetting former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1 and earning her first top-50 win over Magda Linette. At the WTA 500 Merida Open, Joint stunned world No. 20 Donna Vekic 6-1, 6-2, becoming the second-youngest player in the top 100. Her first WTA 125 doubles title in Cancún with Taylah Preston highlights her versatility, giving Australia some options in the BJK Cup going forward.
Overcoming Challenges
Joint’s journey required some bold choices. She declined a college tennis scholarship at the University of Texas, where she planned to study psychology and criminology, to turn professional in December 2024. NCAA prize money restrictions limited her earnings from her 2024 US Open run, but her move to Australia’s tennis system provided elite coaching and a competitive edge unavailable in Michigan.
A Bright Future
Joint’s Madrid win set up a second-round clash with world No. 10 Emma Navarro, offering a chance to make further waves. As the only Australian woman to advance in Madrid alongside new Aussie, Daria Kasatkina, Joint carries the nation’s hopes for the following week.
Australia’s Next Star
Joint’s achievement signals a new era for Australian women’s tennis. Since Barty’s 2022 retirement, Australia has struggled to fill the void. Joint, alongside Olivia Gadecki and Kimberly Birrell, marks the first time since March 2022 that Australia has three women in the WTA top 100 (plus Kasatkina). At just 19 years old, Madrid is just the start for this Queensland prodigy.
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