Teenager Maya Joint has been thrust into Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup team as a reward for her rocket rise into the world’s top 100.
Just four months ago, the 18-year-old was the team’s ‘orange girl’, the honorary position offered to a young player to act as everything from squad cheerleader to ball girl while being able to soak up the tournament atmosphere.
But after a spectacular summer back home, Joint’s now been fast-tracked into what looks set to be a hugely testing debut for the team in April’s BJK Cup qualifying event in front of her hometown fans in Brisbane.
In the line-ups named on Thursday, Australia captain Sam Stosur has chosen Joint in a full-strength squad for the three-day tournament against Kazakhstan and Colombia at Pat Rafter Arena between April 10 and 12.
The squad features their three top-ranked singles players who’ve all recently powered into the top-100 – world No.76 Kim Birrell, Joint (No.85) and Ajla Tomljanovic (No.94) – as well as experienced doubles specialists Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez.
But with only one team of the three making it to the BJK Cup finals in Shenzhen, China, in November, Australia will have their work cut out, particularly against a powerful Kazakh team headed by 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
World No.7 Rybakina, also the 2023 Australian Open finalist, will be joined by the ever-combative Yulia Putintseva, ranked 20th.
That will be the first day’s tie on April 10, so Joint, who’s already downed one top-20 player this year in Donna Vekic, could make her BJK Cup bow seeking another top scalp.
“Maya has earned this opportunity after a brilliant 12 months, and I have no doubt she will rise to the occasion in her debut,” Stosur said of the youngster who’s one of only two teenagers in the women’s top-100.
“She’s had some fantastic results and has proved she belongs at this level.”
The Colombians, whom Australia play on the final day, will pose a tough challenge too.
They’re spearheaded by world No.53 Camila Osorio, who caused a shock on her last visit by beating the seeded Maria Sakkari at the Australian Open, and the 80th-ranked Emiliana Arango.
TEAMS FOR THE BILLIE JEAN KING CUP QUALIFYING EVENT IN BRISBANE (APRIL 10-12)
Australia: Kim Birrell, Maya Joint, Ajla Tomljanovic, Storm Hunter, Ellen Perez. Captain: Sam Stosur
Kazakhstan: Elena Rybakina, Yulia Putintseva, Zhibek Kulambayeva, Zarina Diyas, Anna Danilina. Captain: Yuriy Shchukin
Colombia: Camila Osorio, Emiliana Arango, Yuliana Lizarazo, Paulina Perez. Captain: Alejandro Gonzalez.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/tennis/joints-set-to-be-jumping-at-the-bjk-cup-in-brisbane-c-18035165
