Maya Joint wins Eastbourne title to end Alexandra Eala's history bid
Australia's Maya Joint celebrating with the trophy after beating the Philippines' Alexandra Eala on June 28. PHOTO: AFP
EASTBOURNE, England - Australian teenager Maya Joint saved four match points to clinch the WTA title at Eastbourne with a dramatic victory over Alexandra Eala that ended the Filipina's history bid on June 28.
Joint survived a tense clash lasting two hours and 26 minutes, emerging with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) win to seal her second WTA Tour title.
In the youngest Eastbourne final since 1981, world number 51 Joint staved off the four championship points in a gripping final-set tie-break.
She finally wrapped up the title by drilling a backhand winner before collapsing to the turf in delight.
Having also defeated former Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu at Eastbourne over the last week, Joint has underlined her status as one of the rising stars of the women's tour.
After winning on clay in Rabat in May, the 19-year-old has proved she can thrive on grass as well ahead of the start of Wimbledon on June 30.
Joint is also scheduled to partner Hsieh Su-wei in the Eastbourne doubles final against Marie Bouzkova and Anna Danilina later on June 28.
It was a painful defeat for Eala, who was so close to becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title.
The 20-year-old wiped away tears of frustration during the on-court trophy presentation.
An emotional Alexandra Eala at the presentation ceremony.
PHOTO: AFP
Eala had become the first Filipina to reach a WTA final after beating Varvara Gracheva in the last four at Eastbourne on June 27.
Eala's run to the final has made the world number 74 one to watch in the coming months.
After progressing through qualifying to make the main draw, Eala beat Lucia Bronzetti, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, Nottingham Open finalist Dayana Yastremska and France's Gracheva.
She had burst onto the scene with three shock victories over Grand Slam winners Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek to reach the Miami Open semi-finals in March.
Eala is due to face reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova in the Wimbledon first round on Centre Court on July 1.
But Krejcikova is struggling with a thigh injury that forced her to pull out of the Eastbourne quarter-finals on June 26, putting the Czech's title defence in doubt. AFP
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Fritz beats Brooksby to defend Eastbourne title
EASTBOURNE, England :Three-times champion Taylor Fritz came out on top in an all-American decider, beating lucky loser Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the Eastbourne Open final on Saturday to retain his title. Fritz has never lost a final at Eastbourne, also beating fellow Americans when winning in 2019 and 2022 and, having been taken to three sets in his three previous matches at this year's edition, the final was a more straightforward affair. "There's something about Eastbourne," said Fritz. "I just love it here. Every year I come here and it's such a good week. This year it's been different and I've had to fight through my matches. I feel like I've really upped my level." The top seed was made to battle in the opening set, with Brooksby breaking first, but Fritz responded immediately and broke a second time to clinch the set. Fritz had little trouble wrapping up the straight-sets win, even with Brooksby forcing two break points with the second set poised at 1-1, but the champion held firm and broke Brooksby's next two service games to win his fourth title. The 27-year-old Fritz will now go to Wimbledon full of optimism, having also won the Stuttgart Open earlier in June, and his tournament begins against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Fritz beats Brooksby to defend Eastbourne title
Tennis - Eastbourne Open - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2025 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's singles final against Jenson Brooksby of the U.S. Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs REUTERS Tennis - Eastbourne Open - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, Britain - June 28, 2025 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. in action during the men's singles final against Jenson Brooksby of the U.S. Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs REUTERS EASTBOURNE, England - Three-times champion Taylor Fritz came out on top in an all-American decider, beating lucky loser Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the Eastbourne Open final on Saturday to retain his title. Fritz has never lost a final at Eastbourne, also beating fellow Americans when winning in 2019 and 2022 and, having been taken to three sets in his three previous matches at this year's edition, the final was a more straightforward affair. "There's something about Eastbourne," said Fritz. "I just love it here. Every year I come here and it's such a good week. This year it's been different and I've had to fight through my matches. I feel like I've really upped my level." The top seed was made to battle in the opening set, with Brooksby breaking first, but Fritz responded immediately and broke a second time to clinch the set. Fritz had little trouble wrapping up the straight-sets win, even with Brooksby forcing two break points with the second set poised at 1-1, but the champion held firm and broke Brooksby's next two service games to win his fourth title. The 27-year-old Fritz will now go to Wimbledon full of optimism, having also won the Stuttgart Open earlier in June, and his tournament begins against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday. "I'm going to be ready to go. I'd much rather go into the tournament with confidence and a title," Fritz said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Fifa's Arsene Wenger promises better US pitch quality for 2026 World Cup
Football pitches in the US are not up to the standard that European clubs are used to, said Fifa global football development chief Arsene Wenger. PHOTO: AFP MIAMI - Fifa's global football development chief Arsene Wenger acknowledged that the quality of pitches hosting Club World Cup matches in the US was not good enough, but insisted it would be better when the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup. The pitches, often very dry and sprinkled with water during cooling breaks or at halftime, have been widely criticised, mainly by coaches and players of the European teams taking part. 'I've been personally on the pitch at Orlando,' former Arsenal manager Wenger said on June 28. 'It's not at the level that the European clubs are used to because it's not perfect, but that will be rectified for the World Cup next year.' Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique raised the issue early in the expanded Club World Cup tournament. 'The ball bounces like a rabbit,' Luis Enrique said after his team's opening 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. 'Today, for example, the field used to be artificial turf, and now it's natural grass laid over it, which means it has to be watered manually. It's a big problem for the way we play.' 'Fifa really needs to take this seriously. Not just the stadium fields but also the training pitches. If we're calling this the best club tournament in the world, it should have world‑class facilities. I can't imagine an NBA game played on a court full of holes.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
