Australian rising star wins first WTA title

Joshua Mayne

Australian rising star wins first WTA title image

Maya Joint has claimed her maiden WTA singles title.

The Australian defeated Jaqueline Cristian 6-3 6-2 in the Moroccan Open final overnight Saturday (AEST). 

It marks the latest achievement in the 19-year-old's tennis career, as she continues to progress in leaps and bounds.

In April, Joint notably became the youngest Australian to claim a win at WTA 1000 level, breaking Ash Barty's record.

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The Michigan-born talent didn't drop a set in Rabat, claiming notable scalps against No. 9 seed Katie Volynets and No. 4 seed Ann Li.

She came up against fellow countrywoman Ajla Tomljanović in the semi-finals, although the veteran retired after the first set with an illness.

Joint then required just one hour and 20 minutes to beat Cristian in the championship match.

It capped off a remarkable week in Morocco for the teenager, who claimed the doubles crown alongside Georgia’s Oksana Kalashnikova on Saturday.

"Must be something about Morocco," Joint said.

"It’s been an amazing week. The conditions really tested both of us – this crowd was unbelievable."

Maya Joint
Getty Images

Joint is currently the world No. 78, but is set to surge up to a career-high 53 in the rankings.

This will see her enter Roland-Garros, which starts on Sunday evening, as the highest-ranked Australian woman behind Daria Kasatkina (No. 17).

The teenager will take on Tomljanović again in the first round as she aims to kick off her French Open debut with a win.

Seven Australian women will feature in the main draw in Paris.

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News currently based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and a journalist at Ministry of Sport. Joshua specialises in rugby league, motorsport and tennis. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again.