Australian Open Day 2: Pegula Faces Rising Star Joint in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia — Day two of the Australian Open promises thrilling matchups as 28 matches take center stage at Melbourne Park. Among the highlights is 18-year-old Australian wildcard Maya Joint, who will face seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula in her first main-draw appearance at the tournament.

Joint, ranked No. 105, enters the match as the underdog but is embracing the challenge. “I like being the underdog in matches,” Joint told reporters. “Just go out, have no pressure, see what I can do.” The young star recently reached the semifinals in Hobart, her best result at a WTA 250 event, and is aiming to break into the top 100 this year.

Pegula, the US Open finalist, acknowledged the difficulty of facing a less familiar opponent. “It’s going to be a really tough match,” Pegula said. “Only having a day here as well to kind of get used to the conditions. Of course, it rained too, so I wasn’t able to hit outside. It’s always tough playing a player where you don’t have a lot of familiarity there.” Pegula arrives fresh off a three-set loss to Madison Keys in the Adelaide International final.

In another intriguing matchup, Ajla Tomljanovic faces Ashlyn Krueger. Tomljanovic, a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, is returning from injury and could struggle against Krueger’s powerful game. Analysts predict Krueger to win in three sets, citing Tomljanovic’s 5-9 record at the Australian Open and her challenges in front of home fans.

Karolina Muchova is also expected to advance, with her all-court game and Grand Slam experience giving her the edge over Nadia Podoroska. Muchova, who impressed at the United Cup, is heavily favored to win in straight sets.

Other Australians in action include Nick Kyrgios, who makes his Grand Slam comeback after more than two years on the sidelines, and Thanasi Kokkinakis, who faces Roman Safiullin. The day’s schedule also features 27th-seeded Jordan Thompson and Chris O'Connell, who will take on 12th-seeded Tommy Paul.

With rain disrupting the opening day, players and fans alike are eager for clear skies and competitive tennis as the Australian Open continues to unfold.