Maya Joint’s breakout week on the Hobart Worldwide continues, with the Australian teenager dropping simply 4 video games in opposition to AO 2020 champion Sofia Kenin to achieve the semifinals.
Hobart, TAS, Australia, 9 January 2025 | Justin Chadwick (AAP)
Rising Aussie teenager Maya Joint has secured a shock semifinal berth on the Hobart Worldwide after outplaying Australian Open 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in straight units.
Joint wanted simply 62 minutes to defeat Kenin 6-3 6-1 in Thursday’s quarterfinal showdown on centre court docket.
The 18-year-old Australian wildcard, who has by no means made it this far at a WTA occasion, will tackle both second seed Elise Mertens or Veronika Kudermetova within the semifinals.
MAYA JOINT YOU’RE A SEMIFINALIST!! 🌟🇦🇺
The dream run continues for the Aussie teenager, reaching her first ever tour-level semifinal with a surprising 6-3 6-1 win over Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin.#HobartTennis pic.twitter.com/etmstrypNC
— Hobart Worldwide (@HobartTennis) January 9, 2025
“It’s loopy. I really feel actually good proper now,” Joint mentioned. “I’m simply so excited to be within the semis. I can’t wait to play once more.
“I performed rather well right now. I believe we had match. She positively examined how low I may get. She hit the ball very flat.”
At world No.118, Joint is the game’s second-highest ranked feminine teenager, behind solely 17-year-old Russian world No.15 Mirra Andreeva.
Joint has dropped solely 11 video games throughout three matches on the Hobart Worldwide, beating world No.53 Olga Danilovic, world No.38 Magda Linette and former world No.4 Kenin alongside the way in which.
Her win in opposition to Kenin was the best of the lot, with Joint placing 18 winners to 13 and changing 5 of her seven break-point possibilities.
Kenin dedicated a whopping 29 unforced errors within the windy circumstances, nearly double that of Joint (15).
Joint set the tone from the outset, snaring two early breaks to race out to a 5-1 lead within the area of 20 minutes.
A mix of some gorgeous winners from Joint and a few poor unforced errors from Kenin led to the lopsided scoreline.
Kenin fought again with a break and a maintain of her personal, however Joint held her nerve to take the primary set in 33 minutes.
After committing 14 unforced errors within the first set, Kenin’s error-riddled show continued within the second. Joint snared the early break, then saved a break level herself earlier than breaking Kenin once more to surge to a 5-1 lead.
Kenin’s spirit was damaged by that stage, with Joint incomes one other break to wrap up the one-sided victory.