Maya Joint vs Elise Mertens Prediction & Betting Tips - Hobart International

Prediction published on 09/01/2025, 09:03  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/01/2025 at 06:33 in Tennis Predictions

Second seed Elise Mertens is two matches away from winning the Hobart International for the third time. Standing between her and the final is wild card Maya Joint. Will we see a surprise? Here's our match prediction.

Her titles in Hobart were won in 2017 and 2018 but last year Mertens lost in the final to Emma Navarro. The world number 34 is playing her first singles tournament since last October when having to retire injured in Japan. This is the first time since the 2024 US Open that she's won two successive matches in a WTA singles tournament.

So far in Hobart, Mertens has had wins over qualifier Nuria Parrizas Diaz, lucky loser Renata Zarazua and unseeded Veronika Kudermetova in three sets, losing the second without winning a game.

Maya Joint is up to a career-high 105th after reaching this semi-final. The 18-year-old Australian has made it to one WTA Tour final in her career. That was in Poland last year when being beaten by Alycia Parks. Two hard court ITF titles were won by her last year.

Last week saw her get to the second round in Brisbane, losing to Victoria Azarenka. This week, Joint has beaten Olga Danilovic, fourth-seed Magda Linette and wild card Sofia Kenin without dropping a set. We go for over 19.5 games to be played.