Maya Joint Claims Eastbourne Crown With Win Over Alexandra Eala
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The Aussie teenager fought her way to a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) triumph over Filipino Eala in a contest that lasted over two hours and twenty five minutes.
Australian Maya Joint beat Alexandra Eala in the final of Eastbourne to clinch the WTA title on Saturday.
The Aussie teenager fought her way to a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) triumph over Filipino Eala in a contest that lasted over two hours and twenty five minutes.
In the youngest Eastbourne final since 1981, world number 51 Joint saved four championship points in a gripping final-set tie-break. She ultimately secured the title by hitting a backhand winner and then collapsing to the turf in delight.
After defeating former Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu at Eastbourne over the past week, Joint has solidified her status as one of the rising stars of the women's tour. Having won on clay in Rabat in May, the 19-year-old has demonstrated her ability to excel on grass as well, just in time for the start of Wimbledon on Monday.
Joint is also set to partner with Hsieh Su-wei in the Eastbourne doubles final against Marie Bouzkova and Anna Danilina later on Saturday.
It was a painful defeat for Eala, who came close to becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title. The 20-year-old wiped away tears of frustration during the on-court trophy presentation. Eala had become the first Filipina to reach a WTA final after defeating Varvara Gracheva in the semifinals at Eastbourne on Friday. Eala's impressive run to the final has made the world number 74 a player to watch in the coming months.
After progressing through qualifying to enter the main draw, Eala defeated Lucia Bronzetti, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Nottingham Open finalist Dayana Yastremska, and France's Gracheva. She had burst onto the scene with three shock victories over Grand Slam winners Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek to reach the Miami Open semi-finals in March.
Eala is scheduled to face reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon first round on Centre Court on Tuesday. However, Krejcikova is struggling with a thigh injury that forced her to withdraw from the Eastbourne quarter-finals on Thursday, casting doubt on the Czech's title defence.
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