Maya Joint Admits Win Over Serena Williams at Wimbledon ‘Definitely Boosted My Confidence’

Maya Joint fulfilled her wish of meeting Serena Williams. In the recently concluded Wimbledon, Joint faced the tennis legend in the first round.

She took the first set off Williams, and when many thought she would win the match in straight sets, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion bounced back in the second set and won through the tie-breaker. But Williams couldn’t capitalize on her momentum and eventually lost the match with scores of 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3.

I think the match against Serena really helped me. Specifically, it definitely boosted my confidence. Every player probably goes through this at some point in their career, but I really had a tough start to the year and quite a long losing streak. And then this challenge came along… In the end, I beat her. And that match helped me believe I could start winning again.

Maya Joint said during her interview with Flashscore in Prague

Joint is currently competing at the Prague Open, where she knocked out home favorite Laura Samson in the first round to schedule her next match against another Czech player, Tereza Valentova.

It was such a surreal experience! What can I say…? But I think it was right there that I proved to myself I could play at a high level again.

Maya Joint added

It was the third time the 20-year-old Australian reached the second round of a Major following the US Open in 2024 and 2025. After upsetting the 44-year-old, Joint lost to Alexandra Eala in her next match, who, after her win over defending champion Iga Swiatek, became the first Filipino to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam event in the Open Era.

Williams, following her singles exit, was set to play doubles as well, with sister Venus Williams. But the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion injured her knee during her match against Joint, forcing the Williams sisters to hand the walkover to Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio.

Novak Djokovic pays tribute to Serena Williams

Novak Djokovic, during his tour of the United States to promote his new Amazon Prime documentary, Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, made an appearance on CBS Mornings. During the interview, among other things, Nole was asked about Serena Williams‘ return.

Let’s enjoy who she is, what she has achieved. What she is doing now after having two children and after being away from professional tennis for so many years is a gift for us, for anyone who loves tennis, anyone who admires Serena and her legacy.

That match against Maya Joint at Wimbledon was not Williams’ first official match after her comeback (though it was her first singles match). Williams made her comeback at the Queen’s Club Championships, during which she played doubles alongside Victoria Mboko. They won their first-round match, but Mboko’s injury forced them to withdraw from their second-round match.

Williams next paired up with Karolina Muchova at the Berlin Open and lost their first-round match. Muchova, at Wimbledon, reached the final but lost to countrywoman Linda Noskova.

Djokovic, on the other hand, was last seen in action in the semifinals of Wimbledon. After beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals that lasted over five hours, Djokovic lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in straight sets.

Before Wimbledon, the 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered a five-set upset to Joao Fonseca in the French Open third round. But at the Australian Open, he played the final after ending a five-set thriller against Sinner in his favor in the semifinals. Carlos Alcaraz beat him in the final. Djokovic last won a Major at the 2023 US Open and last won a title in Athens in 2025.

Also read: Former British ATP Star Speaks on the Toll of Tennis Schedule Amid Carlos Alcaraz Comeback Puzzle