LONDON (AP) 鈥� Maya Joint’s cheering section at Wimbledon for her match of a lifetime against Serena Williams will be small.
The Michigan-born Aussie said she’ll have her tennis coach, fitness coach, agent and … her mom. That might be it.
Joint, 20, was drawn to in the first round and knows she’ll need to tune out what likely will be a stadium 鈥� probably Centre Court 鈥� full of fans hoping to see the 44-year-old Williams launch a successful singles comeback.
鈥淚鈥檓 expecting big serves and big forehands,鈥� Joint said. 鈥淚鈥檓 expecting shorter rallies, just from how hard she hits the ball. I鈥檒l have to be really ready for the first couple of games, try and get a good start to maybe catch her off guard a little bit.鈥�
Big moment for Joint
Her record in Grand Slams is two wins, seven losses with both victories coming at the U.S. Open. Meanwhile, Williams won seven major titles 鈥� completing a career Grand Slam in the process 鈥� before Joint was born in 2006.
鈥淚 have so much respect for her. She was one of my idols growing up, I鈥檓 just really excited to have the opportunity to play against her,鈥� Joint said.
As a qualifier at Flushing Meadows in 2024, Joint beat Laura Siegemund before losing to Madison Keys.
Joint said the match against Keys in Arthur Ashe Stadium gave her a flavor of what’s to come at Wimbledon.
鈥淲hen I saw that she got a wild card to get back into singles, there was always a part of me wanted to experience playing against her,鈥� Joint said.
Ranked No. 53, she made her Wimbledon debut last year, losing in the first round.
A favorable draw for Serena
Williams could have been drawn with any top player on tour, but in Joint she’ll face an opponent who has struggled for much of 2026. At one point Joint lost 10 consecutive matches before a first-round victory at a clay-court WTA 125 event in Croatia this month.
The young player, who represents Australia through her father, sees an opportunity.
鈥淎ny match is winnable. I鈥檝e gotten a lot closer in my past couple matches, I鈥檝e been getting closer in the score,” she said. 鈥淪erena is still an amazing player, so I鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 going to be a difficult match but I also think that I have a chance to win.鈥�
Tomljanovic is optimistic
If anyone knows what it’s like to face Williams in a high-pressure scenario, it’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who beat Williams in the third round at the 2022 U.S. Open in what was Williams’ farewell to tennis at the time.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited. It鈥檚 going to be such a fun experience for Maya,” Tomljanovic said Friday at Wimbledon. 鈥淢aya can go into it really feeling like she鈥檚 got nothing to lose and so much to gain, but at the same time there鈥檚 that true belief that she can win, and she鈥檚 in a good position to win if she plays her game.鈥�
Joint saw Tomljanovic after the draw was announced. Did the youngster ask for advice from the last woman to beat Williams in singles? Nope.
鈥淚 saw her this morning 鈥� she didn鈥檛 ask me anything, but that鈥檚 Maya for you,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 quite introverted but the more time you spend with her she鈥檚 very quirky, she鈥檚 funny. She鈥檚 very professional. She likes to stay in her bubble with her team.鈥�
Still, Joint said Tomljanovic told her 鈥渢hat I can beat anyone.鈥�
鈥楢nything can happen鈥�
Since Williams had been out for nearly four years, a reporter Friday asked Joint who would be the favorite in the match.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a difficult question. I try not to think of what other people think will happen,鈥� she responded. 鈥淭ennis is a crazy sport, anything can happen. It just depends who鈥檚 better on that day, so we鈥檒l see Tuesday.鈥�
She added: “Maybe I can win a couple of people over.鈥�
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