A year ago, Maya Joint was the fresh-faced newcomer with a wildcard entry to the Australian Open main draw. In 2026, she returns carrying the hopes of the nation.
Last summer, Joint made her first appearance in the main draw at the Melbourne slam, facing a tough first-round match-up against then-world No.6 Jessica Pegula.
Stepping onto John Cain Arena, Joint showed plenty of grit and hustle, but ultimately fell to the experienced American in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
READ MORE: Aussie cricket legend Martyn in ‘fight of his life’ in hospital
READ MORE: Off-contract Haas spotted in rival city over Christmas break
READ MORE: Aussie legend Hayden takes aim at Test batting coach
Maya Joint celebrates with the Eastbourne Open trophy after a gritty three-set victory over Alexandra Eala. Charlie Crowhurst via Getty Images for LTA
In the 12 months since that defeat, Joint has enjoyed a meteoric rise, soaring from world No.119 at the start of 2025 to a year-end No.32.
Now established as Australia’s top-ranked female singles player, Joint is perfectly positioned to secure a seeding at the 2026 Australian Open.
Asked what the girl who faced Pegula last January would say to her now, the 19-year-old replied: “That I belong at this level, I’m the ranking that I am for a reason, and I just need to believe in myself and play my game”.
Reflecting on her breakout 2025 season, Joint acknowledged that while she always aimed to be a top player, the reality of achieving the status so quickly was unbelievable.
“It’s been a great year, a crazy year. I did not think at the beginning of the year that I would get this far,” she told Wide World of Sports.
“I mean, I worked really hard, and I had some really great tournaments and results, so it’s been crazy.”
Tangerine has announced a new partnership with Maya Joint, capitalising on the teen sensation’s rapid rise. Supplied
Between the two summers, Joint made a technical and mental shift, transforming her serve into a weapon and building the tactical variety and resilience required to excel at the top level.
“I’ve worked a lot on my serve, so I think it has gotten better for sure,” she said.
“Then I’m trying to add some more variety into my game, feeling unpredictable, and then just working on my problem-solving skills and being able to come out just when I’m down.”
The Aussie tennis summer kicks off with the 2026 United Cup from Friday, January 2. Watch it live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Having lived the first 16 years of her life in Michigan, Joint moved to Brisbane as a dual citizen in mid-2023 to train at Tennis Australia’s national academy.
Joint’s father, Michael, is a Melbourne-born former professional squash player. Her switch in allegiance to his home country has proved a pivotal turning point.
“When I left, I didn’t realise that I’d be moving over here permanently straight away,” Joint said.
Maya Joint celebrates after defeating Laura Siegemund in her grand slam main-draw debut at the 2024 US Open. Jamie Squire via Getty Images
“It was definitely a bit scary in the beginning, just because it was so far away and I’d never been here before, but it’s been a nice decision.
“Australia is amazing.
“All the people here are wonderful, and I wouldn’t have made it to where I am without moving here.
“I just improved so much when I got here.
“I got proper training. I got a gym program. I got a nutritionist and a mental coach — just everything that I didn’t really have.
“So, when I got all of it at once, it kind of just skyrocketed my game.”
Driven by a desire for greater opportunity, Joint feels the US Tennis Federation did not provide her with the specialised, centralised support she found at Tennis Australia.
“I didn’t really have access to any of that in the US,” Joint said.
Maya Joint at the Brisbane International. Glenn Hunt/ The Age
“I had a coach, but she lived pretty far away, so we’d only go maybe once a week, and then there wasn’t anyone to hit with, so it was getting pretty difficult in the last year. I was just hitting with my mum.Â
“So, when I finally got people to train with, it was insanely helpful.”
Asked how the governing body might view her success, Joint is modest.
“I don’t know. I think, I hope they’d be happy for me, that I figured out a way to get here,” she said.
Looking ahead to the Australian summer of tennis, Joint reveals she has had a great pre-season, is playing well and is ready to spearhead the home charge.
First up, Joint will make her tournament debut at the United Cup, beginning Friday.
“I’m really excited, it’s my first time playing that event, so there is definitely going to be some nerves involved with that,” Joint said.
“But I think it’ll be pretty similar to Billie Jean King Cup, just with having a team around you, but it’s also gonna be different because it’s mixed. It’s going to be fun.”
Australia’s Maya Joint fires a backhand against Colombia’s Yuliana Monroy during the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup. Andy Cheung via Getty Images
In November, Joint played a starring role for the Australian team in their Billie Jean King Cup play-off ties against Brazil and Portugal in Hobart, securing the nation’s place in the 2026 qualifiers.
In a dramatic group decider against Brazil’s Laura Pigossi, the teen fended off a match point while trailing 3-5 in the second set.
Following a lengthy rain delay — and spurred on by the vocal home crowd — Joint found a new gear, winning nine of the final ten games to seal the victory.
“When I was playing BJK Cup, it got pretty loud in the last match,” Joint said of playing in front of passionate Australian fans.
“I need to work on framing my mindset to think that that’s a good thing, even when it’s the other team cheering, that it’s just the atmosphere, and it’s fun to play in.
“It’s just a very different feeling than when you’re just playing by yourself, so it’s good to get the experience.”
At the time, Australian captain Nicole Pratt praised Joint’s “battling qualities”, noting that her ability to handle high-stakes moments is a testament to why she has earned the national No.1 ranking.
Joint candidly admits that thriving under pressure remains a work in progress.
“I feel more eyes on me when I play, but I’ve worked hard to get to this point, and I just need to take advantage of it,” Joint said, who recently bolstered her off-court portfolio with a new partnership with internet and mobile data provider Tangerine.
Joint is set to represent Australia in the United Cup alongside top-ranked Aussie man Alex de Minaur.
For the first time in over three years, Team Australia will enter the mixed team event with top-32 stars spearheading both the men’s and women’s sides — a feat not seen since the retirement of Ash Barty.
While Joint is no stranger to playing doubles with new faces, she confesses that she is still getting to know de Minaur.
“We’ve talked, we walked together, and he said, ‘Hi’. He’s always been super nice, and he’s a great player,” she said.
“We have a really good team, so I think we can do pretty well.
“We’re both pretty fast and try to rely on our speed, so I think we can make for a pretty entertaining pairing.”
Joint is scheduled to face former world No.2 Barbora Krejcikova in Australia’s tie against Czechia at Ken Rosewall Arena on Tuesday.
Emma Raducanu shakes hands with Maya Joint following their second-round clash at the Lexus Eastbourne Open. Charlie Crowhurst via Getty Images for LTA
The clash will serve as a final dress rehearsal, testing Joint’s mettle against a two-time grand slam champion just days before the year’s first major.
Joint has embraced the Australian way of adopting an affectionate nickname, penning ‘Ginger Ninja’.
“I put it on my Instagram bio, so I do get a lot of support under that name,” she said.
“I didn’t know that would happen, I just thought it sounded cool and why not?
“The support’s been amazing, especially from the Aussie fans, they’ve really embraced me, which I didn’t know what was going to happen at first.”
Now settled in Brisbane, Joint credits her Melbourne-based family for providing an extended support system that makes her home slam extra special.
Despite her American upbringing, Joint describes returning to the Australian Open as a true homecoming.