Illness strikes Team Australia ahead of United Cup as Joint ordered to rest

2 months ago 17

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.

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.

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.”

Doubles specialist Hunter will also begin her season in Australia for the first time since coming back from an achilles injury.

Hunter returned to the court in February 2025, but not before missing the 2025 United Cup and Australian Open.

The United Cup will provide Alex de Minaur with a rare opportunity to play on his home court in Sydney.

“What I’m thinking as I’m walking out is the countless hours I did on the outside courts on this venue growing up,” de Minaur said.

“I was at the academy here, I grew up here, I was here while the tournament was being played on. I was a hitting partner for the tournament, and all I wanted as a kid was to one day compete on that court.

“It is basically a pinch-me moment every time I walk out there. I get goosebumps. The crowd support is also unbelievable, and that’s what I love about it.”

Grand slam great given Australian Open wildcard

Venus Williams celebrates her win over Peyton Stearns during a match at the Citi Open tennis tournament Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

A familiar face will be returning to the Australian Open in 2026, with 45-year-old Venus Williams receiving the final women’s wildcard.

The seven-time grand slam singles champion will return to Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021. Williams has been a finalist in Melbourne twice – in 2003 and 2017 – but on both occasions was beaten by her sister Serena.

Williams secured the final women’s discretionary wildcard. Australia’s Emerson Jones, Priscilla Hon, Talia Gibson and Taylah Preston had already received one. Any other Australian women ranked outside the top 104 will have to secure a place through qualifying.

There are still three wildcards yet to be distributed for the men’s draw, with Australians James Duckworth and Rinky Hijikata already locked in.

Watch the 2026 United Cup from January 2 on Nine, 9Now and Stan Sports.

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