Maya Joint wins Eastbourne title in lead-up to Wimbledon 2025

History repeated for her with another pre-grand slam title, but the American-born teenager plans on hanging around a little longer at the All England Club. The draw did Joint no favours, with 19th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova waiting for her.
'I think this time is a tiny bit different. I get one more day of rest, and I'll just detach myself a little bit more from the last match and just focus on that match coming up,' Joint said.
Joint with her trophy. Credit: Getty Images
'I took a look at the draw, so I know who I'm playing, but I've never played her before, so I don't know much about her.'
Joint's graduation from grasscourt novice was as swift as her rise into the world's top 50. She lost in the first round of Nottingham qualifying on grass last week to an opponent ranked outside the top 100, then reportedly struggled in practice with last year's winner Daria Kasatkina in Eastbourne before the tournament.
'She was a bit depressed on the practice,' Kasatkina said.
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'But everyone saw she also won the title in Rabat this year. She has great potential. She's also a very nice girl, a hard-working girl. She's got everything, and I'm happy for her having this success so early.'
Joint, who switched allegiances to Australia two years ago, and Russian top-tenner Mirra Andreeva will be the only teenagers ranked in the WTA Tour's top 50 on Monday as she continues to set the standard for an emerging group of Australian women's players.
Sixteen-year-old Emerson Jones is the world junior No.1 and lost in final-round qualifying for Wimbledon, while Talia Gibson, 21, went one better in booking her main draw debut at SW19.
'[Maya]'s doing absolutely amazing right now, and I'm so incredibly happy for her, and it's so awesome to see the progress she's made, even in the last year,' Gibson said.
'I think it drives us all. We're such a close group of girls, and super supportive of each other – always having the chance to train with each other and push each other to the limit as well, so we're really lucky to have such an amazing group of girls.
'It's amazing to see how many of us are in the main draw, and I hope that continues for a long time to come still. It's really exciting for me to be here amongst it all for the first time.'
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Meanwhile, No.20 seed Alexei Popyrin will headline eight Australians in action on the first day of Wimbledon on Monday, including Gibson, Olivia Gadecki, Chris O'Connell, Jordan Thompson, Ajla Tomljanovic, James Duckworth and Kim Birrell.
After a slow start to the year and coaching change from Xavier Malisse to Wayne Ferreira, Popyrin is ready to build upon his career-best run to the round of 32 in London last year after making the last 16 at Roland-Garros.
The 25-year-old brushed off a self-confessed case of 'impostor syndrome' to regain form.
'From the start of the claycourt season, I felt like I belonged [again],' Popyrin said.
'I know I've done the work. I know I've beaten players, and I deserve to be where I am right now … [but] it's easy to go down a little spiral when results aren't going your way, but from the claycourt season, it's been quite positive for myself.'
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