Maya Joint earned major praise from Australian team captain Nicole Pratt after the 19-year-old came back from the brink of a defeat to beat Brazil's Laura Pigossi 2-6 7-5 6-1 and book her nation a spot in next year's Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
On Friday, Australia defeated Portugal in their Group E opener in Hobart. That put the host nation in a position to secure the top spot of the group by overcoming Brazil.
And it started well for Australia after Kim Birrell defeated Nauhany Vitoria Leme da Silva in the opening match of the tie. Next on the court was reigning Eastbourne champion and world No. 19 Joint. For some reason, the 19-year-old rising star mightily struggled to find any rhythm and it led to world No. 193 Laura Pigossi opening a shock 6-2 5-3 lead – and even clinching a match point when serving for the match in the 10th game of the second set.
At that moment, Joint appeared to be done and the tie appeared to be heading toward a deciding doubles match. But then, the 19-year-old showed outstanding mental strength and won the next nine games en route to completing her comeback.
Pratt: It was such a classy and grtty fighting effort from Joint
"(It was) such a classy fighting effort, and gritty. We spoke about it, we just have to compete. That's exactly what Maya did. (She) didn't play her best tennis in the first set but it is all part of experience and learning. The more she is in these situations, the better and better she is going to be. It's all new territory," Australian team captain Pratt said after the tie.
For someone of her age, it was undoubtedly an impressive way to come back and win.
"After I saved that match point and was able to go back on serve, finally in the second set, that really changed the whole thing," Australian teenage sensation Joint said.
