Updated ,first published
London: No one gave Maya Joint a chance. At least anyone not Australian, or with a foot in Joint’s camp. They were wrong.
Faced with the daunting prospect of being Serena Williams’ first opponent in her celebrated Wimbledon comeback as a 44-year-old mother-of-two – after almost four years away – Joint shocked the world with a 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 victory over the former world No.1.
There were no histrionics. That is not Joint’s style.
Instead, she rose her arms in triumph, shared a polite handshake with Williams, then had a moment of introspection at her courtside chair as she soaked up a career-best win. Her overjoyed mum, Katja, was up in the stands and held aloft Joint’s stuffed toy, “Doggy”.
“I really don’t know what to say right now. I don’t know what just happened,” a disbelieving Joint said.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was up until like 2am just thinking about it. I forgot the warm-up. I don’t know what happened, my legs weren’t moving, and I don’t know how I got a pretty good start in the match.
“She has such an aura, she’s such a legend, and so many big names have played on this court. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so it’s crazy.”
Having twice been up a set and a break, Joint had every reason to drown in self-doubt as the American legend stormed back to snatch the second set, then go up a break herself in the final set. An already electrified crowd was beside itself by that stage.
Then came the twist, and reality check.
Joint was the ascending star, not Williams, who became increasingly vulnerable in the latter stages of her career before she retired in defeat to Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at the 2022 US Open.
Even so, it was remarkable how Joint continued to absorb a mountain of pressure. Equally, it was understandable – at least in hindsight – that Williams was unable to complete the job after so many years away from this cauldron.
Speaking to this masthead afterwards, Joint said she was nowhere near as calm as she looked.
“I was a bit panicky and a bit frustrated that I didn’t close it out when I had the chance [in the second set], and I had a lot of break points in one of the pretty important games that I ended up losing,” she said.
“I was mad that I didn’t take my chances, especially against someone like her.”
It was brilliant sporting theatre: a tennis giant still so respected and feared that the expectation was she would steamroll a rising star. Even Mirra Andreeva, Roland-Garros champion mere weeks ago, admitted she would not want to be in Joint’s position.
To most, the red-headed Australian string bean was live meat for Williams to demolish in a triumphant return to Wimbledon’s centre court, where she won seven of her 23 grand slam titles.
But Joint and her coach, Chris Mahony, made a pact that she was not going to back down to Williams, who made a career out of intimidating opponents with her extraordinary presence.
“I knew she would have big serves, but I had to punch back, and show her that I’m not going to go away, and that I’m not scared of her, even though I was,” Joint told this masthead before breaking into laughter.
“I tried to bluff it a little bit with my tennis, but I had to be aggressive, and even if I missed the return, it still sends a better message than if I pop up a shot in the middle of the court, and she hits a winner.”
Almost everyone inside the stadium – outside Joint’s squad of blue-clad Tennis Australia support staff, her proud mum, and agent Jedd Zetzer – were desperate for a Williams win, and they whipped themselves into a frenzy as she staged a second-set comeback.
Fans jumped to their feet for a standing ovation at their first sight of Williams as she strode purposefully onto centre court, dwarfing Joint with her famed and still-imposing physique.
Joint said later that standing in the hallway with Williams before walking out was the “craziest” moment of her life. That is without even mentioning the wider gulf in their on-court achievements.
The initial ovation lasted more than a minute, without a noticeable acknowledgment from a locked-in Williams, then the crowd roared again as she walked to the net for the coin toss, gyrating as she readied for battle with an opponent 24 years her junior.
The reaction was unlike anything else heard at this year’s Wimbledon championships, and the enthusiasm never dulled.
There was an understanding that this was a special occasion, even if the regularly star-filled Royal Box failed to drag out any mega celebrities.
What quickly became obvious was that Joint was not going to meekly relent to the Serena show. Despite landing only two of six first serves, the young Aussie managed to grind out a hold. 1-0 Joint. It was a tick for her first test.
Joint was inside the top 30 as a teenager at the start of this year, but less was made of that in the lead-up to this showdown, and more of how she had suffered through a 10-match losing streak and won just once in her past 14 contests.
Overlooked in the pre-match commentary that dismissed Joint’s chances was how she nursed a back injury for much of that time. Fit again, she seems ready to relaunch, starting with a second-round date with Filipino Alexandra Eala, who Joint beat in a thrilling Eastbourne final on grass last year.
This might turn out to be the most significant moment in her fledgling career, given the opponent, the moment and her form line. Anyone who did not know, or believe in, Joint before Tuesday night certainly does now.
Through six thoroughly entertaining games, Joint flayed seven winners to Williams’ three, and refused to back down. Neither player had bent to the pressure at that stage, but that moment was soon coming.
Incredibly, it was Williams who blinked first, crashing a backhand into the net to give Joint the chance to serve for a one-set lead. After another tense game, she swatted a forehand for a 10th winner to go 6-3 up.
The “upset” was on, even more so after Joint walloped a backhand winner to break immediately in the second set.
By then, the decibels on Williams’ grunts were louder. Every trick in the book was coming out. Meanwhile, the pro-Serena crowd did everything possible to lift their champion across the line.
They traded breaks, but Williams’ effort to stave off four break points at five-all was the first sign of what was to come. Even at 44, she was never going to be an easy out.
A match point came and went for Joint in the second-set tie-break, then Williams rifled a 196km/h serve down the T that didn’t come back. One point later, it was one set all – and one can only imagine what was going through Joint’s mind.
The crowd was even treated to Williams arguing with the chair umpire about a line call. Hawk-Eye confirmed she was wrong. It really was like old times.
But it was impossible, as always, not to be impressed with Williams.
Her entrepreneur husband, Alexis Ohanian, cradled two-year-old Adira, while eight-year-old Olympia was also on hand to watch their super mum in her element. Wherever this goes, Williams gave everyone another moment to remember.
Her kids, her fans, the locker room – many of whom play tennis because of her.
Joint has not always felt she belonged with the biggest stars while breaking through on tour, but Williams might have unwillingly delivered her the evidence she absolutely does.
Marc McGowan travelled to London with Tennis Australia’s support.
Watch Wimbledon from 7.30pm Monday (AEST) on the Nine Network and Stan Sport.
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