Get ready for some emotional tennis action! Maya Joint has just won the Eastbourne title in a thrilling match, leaving her opponent Alexandra Eala in tears.
Aussie Teenager’s Meteoric Rise Continues
19-year-old Maya Joint saved four championship points to beat fellow rising star Alexandra Eala, becoming the first Australian to win the Eastbourne title in its 50-year history.
This win has propelled her to No.41 in the world rankings.
Eala, 20, from the Philippines, was devastated after the match, but she has a lot to be proud of.
She made history by becoming the first player from the Philippines to reach a WTA Tour final. “I want to congratulate Maya for a great match and great tournament,” Eala said.
“This is my first WTA final, it’s a big deal for me and for my country too because it’s historic.”
Iga Swiatek Also Reduced to Tears
In another emotional match, Iga Swiatek was in tears after losing to Jessica Pegula in the Bad Homburg final.
The five-time grand slam champion was playing her first final on grass and was clearly emotional about the loss.
“This tournament shows there’s hope for me on grass,” she joked after wiping away the tears.
Pegula won her third title of the season, adding to her trophies in Austin and Charleston.
The American now boasts nine career titles, with five coming in the last 12 months.
Maya Joint’s Journey to Wimbledon
Joint will now head to Wimbledon, where she’ll face a tough opener against Russian No.19 seed Liudmila Samsonova on Tuesday.
She’s part of a 17-strong Aussie contingent at the All England Club – the country’s largest in 30 years.
“I’m very happy right now, feeling very relieved as well. It was a very difficult match.
In that third set, and I’m proud of myself for coming back and staying in the match, even though I’d lost about nine of the last 10 games,” Joint said.
Let’s wish Maya Joint all the best as she takes on Wimbledon!