Joint gets Barty's backing with teenager's Aus Open milestone confirmed
Teenage star Maya Joint will be the first home women's seed at the Australian Open since former world number one Ash Barty broke a 44-year title drought in 2022.
Australian tennis's next generation has officially arrived, with teenage ace Maya Joint sealing her place as the first home women's seed at Melbourne Park since retired great Ash Barty.
Joint will be the Australian Open's 31st or 32nd seed after defeats for two of her chasing rivals on Thursday left it mathematically impossible for the 19-year-old to drop out of the world's top 32 before next week's draw.
Provisionally slated to rise to a career-high number 31 on Monday, or remain 32nd if American Iva Jovic continues her run in Auckland, Joint's elevated status ensures Australia's top-rated female player won't face a higher-ranked opponent until at least the third round at the year's first major.
Joint will follow Barty, who topped the AO draw for three straight years before famously winning the Open in 2022, former US Open champion Samantha Stosur, Daria Saville, Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik as only the sixth Australian women's Open seed in 36 years.
Maya Joint will lead the Australian women's charge at this year's Australian Open. (Getty Images: Andy Cheung)
The classy Barty, typically, was the first to salute the emerging star.
"Exciting for Maya to be seeded at a slam for the first time, particularly at home in Australia," the triple grand slam champ and former world number one said.
"A testament to her hard work, professionalism and consistency over the past 12 months.
"I love watching her play and can't wait to see her in Melbourne."
Had Anna Kalinskaya not blown a handy third-set lead against world number four Jessica Pegula in Brisbane and dual grand slam winner Barbora Krejcikova not suffered a United Cup loss to Elise Mertens on Thursday night, Joint would have been under siege.
The US-born talent would have needed to upset reigning Wimbledon champion and world number two Iga Swiatek in Australia's United Cup quarter-final against Poland on Friday night to secure a prized Open seeding.
But now the home favourite can play with added freedom against the six-time grand slam winner under the bright lights of Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena.
Maya Joint won the Eastbourne Open last year. (Getty Images: Adam Davey)
Despite trouncing Joint 6-0, 6-2 in Seoul in September, Swiatek is wary of what the exciting young Australian can bring to the court.
"Every match is a different story," Swiatek said.
"I kind of know what her ball feels like, but I'm pretty sure she also learned by knowing how my ball feels.