In an unexpected upset at the WTA 500 tournament in Merida, Croatian tennis sensation Donna Vekic fell flat against qualifier and world No. 103, Maya Joint. This marks yet another round of disappointment for Vekic, whose performance has been notably lacklustre of late. The defeat came in the wake of her first-round bye, where she suffered a resounding 1-6 2-6 loss to Joint on Wednesday.
Joint, an 18-year-old Australian prodigy, dominated the match from the outset, dictating the pace and controlling the flow of the game. This resulted in a resounding victory that is set to propel her further into the limelight. Next up in the Merida round-of-16, Joint is geared to take on Elina Avanesyan, who had earlier toppled Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
In a remarkable feat, Joint has ascended to become the fourth teenager since 2020 who has given up three or fewer games to clinch a victory over a WTA top 20 adversary. This impressive list includes the likes of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva.
On the other hand, Vekic’s defeat in Merida marks her fourth consecutive loss, casting a significant shadow on her upcoming performance at Indian Wells.
Unraveling the details of the match, Joint began with a thunderous start, securing back-to-back breaks and establishing a commanding 5-0 lead. Vekic, the No. 5 seed, could only manage to hold onto her service game in the sixth round, marking her first score on the board. Despite this, Joint maintained her hold on the game, closing out the first set with ease.
Vekic’s fortunes did not turn in the second set, where she failed to convert her first break point in the second game. This misstep proved costly as Joint seized the opportunity to register back-to-back breaks, setting up a 5-1 lead and subsequently serving out for the match in the eighth game.
Throughout the game, Joint demonstrated her prowess, carving out 15 break point opportunities and converting four. Conversely, Vekic failed to realize any of her two break point chances. This face-off marked the inaugural match between these two players, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.