"Did not think I would get this far": American born but bound in Aussie grit, Maya Joint set for new found status after breakout 2025

World No.32, Aussie No.1 and still only 19, Maya Joint has become one of the brightest stars on the WTA Tour over the past year and after making her Australian Open debut last year, she goes into this year as the one to watch.

Joint made her first appearance against Jessica Pegula on John Cain Arena losing pretty easily and despite that 6-3, 6-0 loss, she said despite that loss she always believed and that she just needs to play her game. "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," she said to Wide World of Sports.

She went on to establish herself as the top Aussie player outside of Alex de Minaur and is positioned to be a seed at the Australian Open winning titles including Eastbourne defeating fellow high flyer Alexandra Eala in a new batch of top talents all of whom seem to be friends including Victoria Mboko.

"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. I've worked a lot on my serve, so I think it has gotten better for sure."

"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."

But while she is now an Aussie, she lived for the first 16 years of her life in the US with her father being Australian meaning she made the move over and it is one that isn't just for the flag on her name as she lives and trains in Australia which she sees as her home.

"When I left, I didn't realise that I'd be moving over here permanently straight away," Joint said. "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."

But while the US system gets lauded, Joint admits none of that came her way and that the Aussie way was much more beneficial to her as she navigated her career growing through the ranks.

"I didn't really have access to any of that in the US," Joint said. 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.  So, when I finally got people to train with, it was insanely helpful."

Onto the United Cup which will be the new pressure turned to overdrive as she harbours the ambition of a nation starved of success in these home events and with De Minaur and now Joint together, there is a real thought process that it could be a year to remember.

"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."

But while Joint has played in Billie Jean King Cup, she has to embrace multiple different challenges on her United Cup debut but has the footing that she will get the vocal support and that she needs to work solely on framing her mindset.

"When I was playing BJK Cup, it got pretty loud in the last match," Joint said. "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."

But she also said she is getting to know Alex de Minaur more who she may have to play mixed doubles with during the event and that while they're not close yet, they have exchanged pleasantries and are ready to rule.

"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."