Maya Joint Reaches First WTA Final in Morocco

RABAT, Morocco — Teenage tennis player Maya Joint has reached her first WTA final after defeating fellow Australian Ajla Tomljanovic at the Morocco Open on Friday. The match, held just days before the French Open, showcased Joint’s rising talent as she looks to make a mark on the professional circuit.

The 19-year-old Joint took the first set 6-4 before Tomljanovic, the world No. 79, was forced to retire due to health issues. Although Joint was gaining momentum in the match, the sudden withdrawal surprised both her and the crowd.

“I mean, it’s never the way you want to win, Ajla’s a good friend,” Joint said. She will face Tomljanovic again at Roland Garros next week, where both players have drawn each other in the first round. “I hope that she can get better quickly; it’s difficult playing against a fellow Australian,” she added.

In addition to her singles success, Joint also secured her first doubles title later that day alongside Georgian Oksana Kalashnikova. The pair defeated Italian duo Angelica Moratelli and Camilla Rosatello with a score of 6-3, 7-5.

The semifinals match lasted only 39 minutes, during which Joint displayed her dominance over Tomljanovic, including a remarkable forehand that set her up for a 3-0 lead early in the match. Despite a comeback attempt from Tomljanovic, Joint maintained pressure, eventually closing out the first set with a service return that Tomljanovic could not handle.

Joint, who is originally from the United States but represents Australia, has made significant strides in her rankings. She began the previous year ranked 684th and is now on track to enter the top 60, potentially reaching as high as No. 53 depending on her performance in Saturday’s final against Romanian Jaqueline Cristian.

The stakes are high for both players, as Cristian defeated Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the other semifinal 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4. This opportunity for Joint marks another key moment in her burgeoning career.