Czech mate: Maya Joint humbled in first match of the United Cup in big blow to her Australian Open preparations

Rising Aussie star Maya Joint overcame an early season virus, but she couldn’t get past Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday night in a major blow to her Australian Open campaign if this ends up being her only singles match at the United Cup. The first match of the Group D clash lasted just 77 minutes with Krejcikova steamrolling Joint 6-4 6-1 thanks to her dominant first serve and ferocious forehands. Joint missed Australia’s opening tie against Norway on Saturday night when veteran Storm Hunter stepped in late to guide the tournament hosts to victory. And while she also skipped a lawn bowls event with the team in Clovelly on Monday, the 19-year-old was cleared to take on Krejcikova in a big test less than two weeks out from the first grand slam of the year. The world No.32 looked like someone who hadn’t been able to train properly, with Joint losing the opening two games to love as her rival raced out of the blocks to clinch the first set in 45 minutes. Joint was broken in the opening game of the second set and couldn’t find a way to unsettle the two-time grand slam champion who blew her younger rival off the court to put Czechia 1-0 up. The result leaves Australia in a precarious position in Group D as they try to qualify for the quarter-finals, with Joint hoping to get more matches under her belt before her home slam. If Australia doesn’t progress to the next round, Joint has put her name down to play in Adelaide where some of the top stars in the world have already been locked in for next week’s event.