Maya Joint pulled off a staggering escape at the Korea Open, saving three match points and erasing a 5-1 second-set deficit to defeat Xinxin Yao 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-3 in Seoul, according to reporting by Yardbarker. Facing world No. 284 Xinxin Yao, Joint fought back from the brink of defeat to advance to the second round of the WTA tournament.
A Match Near Collapse
The opening sets saw Yao seize total control of the court. Yao jumped to a 4-1 lead with a double-break before taking the first set 6-2. The momentum continued into the second set as Yao surged ahead 5-1, dropping just three games overall and leaving Joint on the verge of a straight-sets exit.
https://x.com/WTA/status/2101914183780729285
Joint faced mounting pressure not just in the match score, but in the rankings. Having reached the semi-finals of the Seoul event last year during her breakthrough, the 20-year-old Australian entered the tournament ranked No. 99 in the world following a difficult 2026 marked by injuries and inconsistent form. As the tournament’s No. 5 seed, she was heavily favored against the Chinese qualifier but struggled to find her rhythm early.
Saving Match Points
Trailing 5-1 in the second set, Joint mounted her rescue. She saved her first match point to claw back to 5-2, then broke Yao’s serve twice to level the score at 5-5. Yao earned another chance to serve out the match at 30-0 in the eleventh game, but Joint reeled off four consecutive points to force a tiebreak.
In the ensuing tiebreak, Joint saved a third and final match point before converting her own second-set point to level the match. Having forced a deciding third set, Joint secured an early break, fended off break points in her final two service games, and claimed the final four games to seal the victory.
Next Steps in Seoul
With the win secured, Joint advances to the second round in the South Korean capital. She is scheduled to face wildcard entry Dayeon Back next.
https://x.com/BastienFachan/status/2101914413964136691
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