THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2026

Maya Joint

Press Conference

M. JOINT/S. Williams

6-3, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Maya, a big night for you. How are you feeling after that match?

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm very happy with the way I played today. Just being able to win a match, even though this year has been pretty tough. Yeah, I'm really happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What did it feel like sharing the court with Serena Williams, one of the icons of the game, I'm sure one of your idols as well? What was the environment like in the stadium? Louder, quieter, what did you expect?

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I think the stadium is pretty much what I expected. You know, full, a full stadium and very loud. But, you know, they also cheered a lot for me, which I didn't think they were going to do as much as they did. That was a nice surprise.

But the atmosphere was amazing. I mean, I don't know the last time I played in such a full stadium. So that was amazing.

Yeah, stepping out on court with Serena was, yeah, something I never thought I'd get to do. Yeah, I mean, I don't think I have quite processed it yet.

Q. Massive congratulations. You talked beforehand about she didn't seem real to you because you had never seen her in person. What was it like the first time you were in her presence, that imposing, physical presence right alongside you?

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I think it was good. I saw her before I actually walked out on court. I saw her around Aorangi a little bit. That was good.

But yeah, when we were in that hallway before we walked out into Centre Court, that was the craziest moment of my life. Yeah, just watching all the greats and the legends do that, for me to do that as well was just insane.

Q. Serena has often said in her career that everybody plays their best against her, which she sometimes says with frustration. Did you feel like playing her brought out your better levels, certainly at least in recent times?

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I think this year has been pretty tough, I think result-wise, especially. I think in my last couple of matches, I have been bringing my best game. And even though I didn't win a lot, I think I still had the confidence that I could win.

I mean, yeah, if you're playing Serena, you have nothing to lose. It makes sense that people play their best game against her.

Q. Did you feel freer in your game in this whole atmosphere?

MAYA JOINT: I was pretty nervous. I don't think I was that free, but I got a good start, which was helpful, and I think I tensed up a little bit when I got close to winning, but yeah, I think I played my best tennis when I needed to, which was good.

Q. What did you make of Serena's level? It must have been a strange match to prepare for in some ways, because none of us really knew.

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I really didn't know what to expect. I went in expecting, thinking that she'd bring her best game that she brought when she was at her peak, because you need to prepare for the hardest possible match.

Yeah, I think she played really well. I don't know. I haven't really watched many of her matches, so yeah.

Q. You said on court that you struggled to get to sleep and you were sort of lying there at 2:00. What were you thinking past midnight when you are lying in bed? Is that a common thing for you? Do you often get a little bit nervous and stay awake ahead of big matches?

MAYA JOINT: I usually don't have that where I can't sleep, but this was a special circumstance. I mean, you know, I was looking for my first Wimbledon win, just a win in general.

I was playing against Serena on Centre Court. I was, yeah, just a lot of thoughts going through my mind, because I wanted to do really well, and I was nervous with what was going to happen, yeah.

Q. Has this been the only time you have ever felt like that, you would say?

MAYA JOINT: I think this time was definitely more extreme. I have definitely been nervous before matches before, but it's usually just right before I go on, not for four days before I find out when I'm going to play her.

Q. You said you had this period not so long ago where it was a momentary thing where you thought, Do I need to play or want to play this game anymore? But when you have a night like this, it must be completely different world that you're in now.

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I mean, I have always dreamt of this moment to, you know, play Serena Williams, Centre Court, Wimbledon. I never thought I'd get the chance to do that. I think I'm very lucky to have been able to do that.

And I think every tennis player at some point in their life thinks they don't want to play anymore. But, you know, this sport is my life. I love it. Yeah.

Q. Even though you were nervous, do you think in some ways it helped that you haven't seen many of her matches, and like a lot of the older players in this tournament would have bad head-to-heads against her, but you're kind of coming in fresh in that way?

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I had no idea what I was going to come up against, so I just had to focus on my own game and play the way I wanted to play. So I think in a way, yeah, it was good.

Q. Congratulations. What do you take away from today's game going into Thursday?

MAYA JOINT: I think it just gives me some confidence that I have been searching for for a while. Just, yeah, proving to myself that I can win and I'm still at, you know, the top level. Yeah.

Q. Playing Alex Eala who you had a memorable match with on this surface a year ago. What do you think about that?

MAYA JOINT: Yeah, I'm surprised we haven't played each other since. We have been in pretty much all the same tournaments. We had an amazing, epic match last time we played in Eastbourne. I'm expecting the same kind of match this time, and yeah, I'm really excited. I think it's going to be really fun.

Q. You mentioned Serena's aura. What is it like in terms of -- you probably didn't talk to her, but being near her or walking next to her, what does it actually feel like?

MAYA JOINT: It's difficult to explain. I don't know. It just seems like she's just so much better, like, in general than you as a person (smiling).

I don't know. It's just intimidating having to play a match against someone who has achieved so much in their career. Yeah.