Maya Joint has returned to winning ways on the WTA Tour, having beaten Alexandra Eala in the Eastbourne final.
Eala reached her first WTA final in Eastbourne, but the 20-year-old failed to get over the line against 19-year-old Joint.
Joint currently occupies 41st place in the WTA rankings, and now has two career titles to her name after triumphing in Eastbourne.
The Australian representative saved four championship points en route to a battling 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) victory over Eala of the Philippines.
She also emerged victorious at Rabat earlier this season, with Joint now turning her attention to Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal reacts after Alexandra Eala loses Eastbourne final
The same can be said of Eala, who has received a social media message from ATP legend Rafael Nadal following her emotional defeat.
Tagging an emotional Eastbourne runner-up Eala on X, 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal wrote: “The first final of many finals.”
READ MORE: What Rafael Nadal has been doing to help prepare himself for a return to playing tennis
His immense pride in the rising WTA star comes as she is a product of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
Maya Joint emulates Caroline Wozniacki after Eastbourne final win over Alexandra Eala
Eala is one of the most exciting players on the WTA Tour at this moment in time, with many experienced stars now well aware of the 20-year-old.
And that includes the likes of Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys, both of whom she beat at this year’s Miami Open.
But Joint is undoubtedly also one to watch, having just become the youngest player representing Australia to win WTA titles on clay and grass in a season since 1990.
And she is the youngest overall since an 18-year-old Caroline Wozniacki achieved the feat in 2009, as per OptaAce.
But the teenager now has a very tough test ahead, having been drawn to face 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the first round of Wimbledon.
Eala can, however, perhaps consider herself more unlucky, as 17th seed and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova represents her opening opponent.
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