LONDON (AP) — Maya Joint’s cheering section at Wimbledon for her match of a lifetime against Serena Williams will be small.The Michigan-born Aussie said she’ll have her tennis coach, fitness coach, agent and ... her mom. That might be it.Joint, 20, was drawn to face the seven-time Wimbledon champion in the first round and knows she’ll need to tune out what likely will be a stadium — probably Centre Court — full of fans hoping to see the 44-year-old Williams launch a successful singles comeback.“I’m expecting big serves and big forehands,” Joint said. “I’m expecting shorter rallies, just from how hard she hits the ball. I’ll have to be really ready for the first couple of games, try and get a good start to maybe catch her off guard a little bit.”
Big moment for JointHer record in Grand Slams is two wins, seven losses with both victories coming at the U.S. Open. Meanwhile, Williams won seven major titles — completing a career Grand Slam in the process — before Joint was born in 2006.“I have so much respect for her. She was one of my idols growing up, I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to play against her,” Joint said.As a qualifier at Flushing Meadows in 2024, Joint beat Laura Siegemund before losing to Madison Keys.Joint said the match against Keys in Arthur Ashe Stadium gave her a flavor of what’s to come at Wimbledon.
