Maya Joint vs Liudmila Samsonova

WTA Wimbledon – 1st Round
Maya Joint vs Liudmila Samsonova

🧠 Form & Context

• Maya Joint
  🚀 Red-hot breakthrough: Fresh off a stunning WTA 500 title in Eastbourne, taking out Jabeur, Raducanu, and Eala in a fairy-tale run.
  🌱 Grass-ready: 5–1 record on the surface in 2025, with titles in Rabat and Eastbourne this season.
  🧠 Poise beyond years: Clutched multiple tight three-setters and saved championship points—mentally ahead of her age group.
  🎾 Slam learning curve: Enters with just one main-draw Slam win to date (US Open 2024).
• Liudmila Samsonova
  🌿 Grass weapon: Former Berlin champ and recent SFist there, with wins over Pegula and Osaka showing her level is back.
  📈 Season stabilizing: 10 match wins across her last four events, including a final in Strasbourg and a strong RG run.
  🎾 Big-match tested: R4 or better in three different Slams—no stranger to pressure.
  ⚡ Boom or bust: Power game thrives on grass, but can unravel fast if rhythm slips.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a fire-vs-fire matchup between a rising teenage phenom and one of the tour’s most dangerous power hitters on grass. Samsonova has the tools and track record, but Joint’s Eastbourne run proves she’s ready to challenge established names. Joint will look to neutralize Samsonova’s first-strike game with early aggression of her own and smart return positioning.

If Samsonova controls her service games, she holds the edge—but Joint’s footwork, energy, and ability to take the ball early could tip long rallies in her favor. Expect a see-saw battle with momentum shifts and a few clutch moments deciding it.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Samsonova in 3 sets. Her experience and raw power give her the edge, but Maya Joint won’t go quietly—this could be the start of a compelling Slam rivalry.