LONDON — When Serena Williams accepted the invitation to play singles at Wimbledon, Maya Joint felt a surge of excitement.
The 20-year-old Joint, excited yet nervous to discover she’d face the tennis legend in the first round, remarked that there was “always a part of me that yearned to have this experience of playing against her.”
Her wish came true—she shined on a grand stage.
The Michigan-born Australian displayed remarkable composure, claiming the most significant victory of her career by defeating Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Tuesday, disrupting the 44-year-old’s singles return at the All England Club.
“Sleep was elusive for me last night. I found myself awake until around 2 a.m., just pondering this match,” Joint shared during her post-match interview.
Ranked 87th globally, Joint projected a serene exterior but admitted to having intense butterflies as she walked onto Centre Court next to the GOAT of women’s tennis.
During warm-ups, she felt as if her legs “weren’t responding.”
“I’m not quite sure how I started so well,” Joint said. “Her presence is powerful; she’s a true legend, and this court has seen so many incredible athletes. I’ve envisioned this moment since childhood—it’s surreal!”
This marked only Joint’s third Grand Slam singles win. By the time she was born in 2006, Williams had already claimed seven major titles, completing her journey for a career Grand Slam. With 23 major singles titles overall—seven of them at Wimbledon—Williams has left an indelible mark on the sport.
“The start was nerve-wracking, and finishing the match was equally challenging. Serena definitely raised her game and played some amazing tennis,” Joint said.
Joint had opportunities to clinch the match earlier on.
At 5-5 in the second set, Joint missed four break point chances as Williams held her serve. Joint bounced back to win the next game to love, showcasing back-to-back aces to push the match into a tiebreaker.
Joint created her first match point at 6-5 in the tiebreak but Williams responded with a brilliant winner and took the following two points.
The pivotal break came for Joint as she surged to a 4-2 lead in the final set, ultimately sealing her victory on her third match point.
Having faced a back injury earlier in the year, Joint had endured a streak of 10 consecutive match losses.
“Despite not winning many matches this year, I maintained my belief that I could win,” Joint reflected. “I seized the moment and cherished it, putting aside thoughts of my earlier losses.”
Last year, Joint triumphed at the Eastbourne grass-court tournament before making her Wimbledon debut, where she lost in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova. Her other two major victories were at the U.S. Open.
Representing Australia through her father, Joint joins a list of lesser-known players who have ousted Williams in the first round at Wimbledon.
Harmony Tan, ranked 115th, eliminated Williams in 2022, while the year before, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, then ranked No. 100, won when Williams was forced to retire due to a leg injury.
