Tereza Valentova v Maya Joint: Australian Open first round - live

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Valentova wins first set 6-4

*Valentova 6-4 Joint (30)

Valentova is serving for the first set. They have had four double faults each so far this match, Valentova getting her fourth now. A cry of “yes” escapes Valentova as sets up two set points. And the first set is hers with an ace! It’s all about the serves this morning on John Cain Arena.

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Valentova 5-4 Joint (30)* Valentova opens things up, sending Joint sprawling on the baseline before smashing a volley to take the first point. Valentova has three break points, and now it’s Joint’s turn to come to the net. She saves one break point but Valentova hangs on to break again.

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*Valentova 4-4 Joint (30) Valentova is dominating on serve in the eighth game. Joint has been strong on return but hasn’t found the same accuracy this game. She fires a forehand return into the net and Valentova holds.

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Updated at 01.45 CET

Valentova 3-4 Joint (30)* Valentova responds to Joint’s first serve with a sharp forehand that she can’t reach. But Joint comes back with a classy ace. Which is followed by a double fault … and Valentova has break point. Joint claws back two break points, takes the advantage thanks to an unforced error and holds the game aided by the ball skimming the net and dropping short of Valentova, which Joint apologises for.

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Updated at 01.40 CET

*Valentova 3-3 Joint (30) Joint powers back a forehand winner off Valentova’s slower second serve. Valentova double faults, then makes it 15-30 with a well-placed second serve. Valentova doubles again! Giving Joint the break point.

And Joint pushes to the net and breaks back! We are 22 minutes in.

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Valentova 3-2 Joint (30)* Joint shows a bit of frustration after a few unforced errors give Valentova two break points. The Australian looks like she is feeling the pressure on serve. Valentova gets the break.

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*Valentova 2-2 Joint (30) Valentova aces the first point. Joint is increasingly darting around the court with more speed and confidence, winning the second point. But Valentova then holds the game comfortably.

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Updated at 01.46 CET

Valentova 1-2 Joint (30)* Back on serve and Joint appears to have shaken off some of the cobwebs and is moving a bit more smoothly. She smashes a forehand to wrap up the third game 0-40.

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Updated at 01.25 CET

*Valentova 1-1 Joint (30) Joint takes the first point in response, but then overhits to give Valentova the second. A 180kmh ace from the Czech puts her up 30-15. Unforced error and a double fault give Joint the break point, which she seals with a snappy backhand. It’s one game all.

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QUIET PLEASE. PLAY!

Valentova 1-0 Joint (30)* Joint goes bang and starts off with an ace, but then loses the second to a double fault. Lovely clean hitting in this first game. Valentova loses her first break point. At deuce, Joint double faults again. Valentova can’t convert the second break point either, with Joint amping up the aggression at the net. A nice lob secures Valentova her third break point and she wraps up the first game with a forehand winner.

*Denotes server

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It’s crowd record after crowd record in Melbourne. Will day three continue the trend?

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Here comes the Ginger Ninja* in hot pink from head to toe plus those trademark sunnies.

*Joint chose the nick name, not me.

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View from Melbourne Park

Jack Snape

Queues for entry have been flowing freely at Melbourne Park on Tuesday morning, even if there are still tens of thousands on the site.

One family whose father spoke to the Guardian said his wife and two children were pleasantly surprised after the reports of recent days. They arrived at the Olympic Boulevard entry at 10.12am and were inside within two minutes.

They found the AO shop too crowded and were unable to get into John Cain Arena for Maya Joint’s match.

The stadium once known as “the people’s court” now has a reduced proportion of unreserved tickets. However, the family walked straight into Kia Arena and are now watching Taylah Preston’s match. There are plenty of seats available, but most are in the sun.

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Storm Hunter will be playing doubles with Joint later and had a few kind words to share with Channel Nine this morning:

She had an incredible last year. She’s still so young and everything for her is a new experience which is amazing. And what she achieved I think is just incredible. And she’s actually my doubles partner this week, so I’m really excited to be playing doubles with with Maya, and she’s going to be a little bit nervous for her first match this morning, but she’s a quality player. She moves so well on the court, so really excited to see how she goes.

(Hunter says she has a book club going during the tournament. Love it!)

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Back to Joint! Who is minutes away from taking to the court.

The 19-year-old blazed on to the scene in 2024, winning her first grand slam match at the US Open and eyeing a spot in the Top 100. Things exploded from there – she went to win her first WTA title in May last year, climbed the rankings and is now Australia’s top women’s player at No 30 in the world.

This is her sixth grand slam, but only her FIRST as a seeded player! Whatever we see today, you can be sure there is so much more to come for this young Australian.

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Recap: Australia on day two

OK. Recapping yesterday’s Australian results.

After his initial opponent Matteo Berrettini withdrew, Alex de Minaur faced a slightly lower first hurdle to start his Open. Lucky loser American Mackenzie McDonald got the call-up and as predicted De Minaur dispatched him easily – following up with a strong statement of intent for the tournament. Jack Snape was at Rod Laver Arena for the match:

Earlier in the day the effervescent Storm Hunter made a winning return to the AO after serious injury, defeating Spaniard Jessica Bouzas 6-4, 6-4. Priscilla Hon and Jordan Thompson also won through to the second round, but youngster Emerson Jones went out and Alexei Popyrin was devestated to fall short in the first round.

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The big global stories from day two (I’ll get to the Aussies in a sec) were Novak Djokovic winning his 100th Australian Open match, a feat he has also achieved at Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Check out tennis correspondent Tumaini Carayol’s report from the match at Rod Laver Arena:

But there was a more sombre tone to the day due to a number of retirements, include men’s seventh seed Félix Auger‑Aliassime. We unpack all of that here:

Plus Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu powered through to the second round.

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Preamble

Jo Khan

Hello and good morning from sunny Melbourne!

Welcome to day three of the Australian Open where there are nine Australians in action in the singles, plus Rinky Hijikata and Tristan Schoolkate in the men’s doubles. Our match of the day session, which I’ll be bringing to you game-by-game very soon, is Australian No 1 Maya Joint v Tereza Valentova of Czech Republic on John Cain Arena.

The 19-year-old Joint was born in the US but switched her allegiances to her father’s country of birth after not getting the support she was after in the US system. And of course Australia is more than happy to claim the bourgeoning tennis star. What’s in store for her second Australian Open.

It’s currently 21C in Melbourne, on its way to a top of 28C. Perfect Australian Open conditions? I think so.

Play starts at 11am AEDT. Let’s get into it!

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