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Australia’s United Cup preparations have hit a bump, with top-ranked women’s player Maya Joint battling illness ahead of Saturday night’s opening round.

Joint missed media and team commitments on Friday and was under doctor’s orders to rest, to give herself the best chance of being fit for her scheduled match with Norway’s Malene Helgo.

Australian Maya Joint has been given doctors orders to rest ahead of her first match on Saturday.Credit: AP

Team captain Lleyton Hewitt said he was confident Joint would be able to play, but that the team would reassess closer to the match.

“I haven’t spoken to her because she’s resting, so [she’s] just trying to get as much sleep and rest as possible today,” Hewitt said.

“Hopefully, it’s only a 24-hour thing, and she can bounce back tomorrow. She hit well yesterday. Confidence-wise, I don’t think myself or her team are too worried about how she’s hitting the ball and moving and playing at the moment.

“We’re just trying to give her the best chance of having 100 per cent energy when she goes out there to play. Fingers crossed she gets the chance. If not, we’ll re-evaluate.”

Team Canada, Germany and Australia ahead of the United Cup in Sydney.Credit: Getty Images for Tennis Australia

If Joint is unable to take to the court, Australia also have Maddison Inglis and Storm Hunter on the team.

Spirits were otherwise high for the Australian team, with Inglis and teammate Jason Kubler having the opportunity to start the season together in Sydney after announcing their engagement last month.

“I didn’t anticipate the hour leading up to it, I was so nervous,” Kubler said of the moment he proposed. “That was crazy, it felt like we were on a first date again.

“Very happy Maddy said yes … but we were super pumped that we could both get into the United Cup as well. It’s not often that we can play the same tournaments. When we can, we try, but just after the year together, playing for Australia as well, supporting these guys, is super special.”