Maya Joint secured a significant victory at the 2026 Canadian Open by defeating the 14th seed, Sorana Cîrstea, 6-4, 6-4 in Toronto. This win propelled the 20-year-old Australian into the third round, matching her best performance at a WTA 1000 event.
How Maya Joint Overcame Cîrstea’s Early First-Set Lead
The match began with Cîrstea asserting control, racing to a 3-1 lead without dropping a point on her serve. However, Joint quickly shifted momentum, capturing five of the next six games. Serving for the first set at 5-4, Joint faced a break point but successfully defended it before converting her seventh set point to close out the set.
In the second set, Joint surged ahead to a 3-0 lead, only to see Cîrstea battle back to even the score at 3-3 after saving four game points. Demonstrating composure and resilience, Joint then won the last three games consecutively to secure the match in 93 minutes. Her conversion of five out of eight break points helped keep the encounter relatively brief and efficient.
Looking ahead, Joint will face Liudmila Samsonova, ranked No. 55, in the third round. The upcoming clash promises a rematch of their 2025 Wimbledon encounter.
This victory marks a continued upswing in Joint’s WTA Tour trajectory. Earlier this year, she halted an 11-match losing streak with an upset win over Serena Williams at Wimbledon, signaling a notable resurgence in her form.