Australia and Great Britain will lock horns in the Billie Jean King Cup once more when they meet later this month.
Australia play Great Britain in a qualifier in Melbourne, having beaten the nation away from home to clinch their place in the final back in 2022.
The venues have now switched in Australia’s favor, but the home side have been forced into a big change just ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier.
And it comes in the form of their highest-ranked player, with Maya Joint representing a late withdrawal from the Australian team.
Who is your favorite player on the WTA Tour right now?
Maya Joint withdraws from Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup team
Joint has really impressed Alex de Minaur in her career so far, which includes two WTA titles and a career-high rank of 28.
But the 19-year-old is currently rehabilitating a back injury, and has been replaced in the team by Emerson Jones.
The 17-year-old is a former world number one in juniors, and has just risen to a career-high rank of 136.
She is joined in the Australia Billie Jean King Cup squad by Talia Gibson, Kimberly Birrell, Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez.
They’ll take on Great Britain in a best-of-five format, which comprises four singles matches and one doubles match.
Sam Stosur predicts big Billie Jean King Cup future for Emerson Jones
While Australia have suffered a major blow with Joint’s absence, they are boosted by the absence of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter for Great Britain.
But Australian team captain Sam Stosur is focusing on her own side, and has shared her delight at the arrival of Jones.
“Emerson has been able to test herself against some of the best players in the world at the Australian Open and other big tournaments already this year,” she said, as quoted by Tennis Australia.
“This opportunity will certainly make her an even better player and is another step in her very young career.
“I have no doubt this will be the first of many times that she represents Australia – she’s going to love it.”
Jones certainly isn’t the only player that Stosur will be excited about, with her compatriot Gibson also taking the WTA by storm.
The 21-year-old has just hit her career-high rank of 56th, recently reaching the quarterfinals of Indian Wells and the Miami Open last 16.
Entering both WTA tournaments as a qualifier, she picked up superb wins over the likes of Jasmine Paolini, Naomi Osaka and Iva Jovic.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
