Australian tennis fans were treated to a stunning double dose of homegrown success at the Adelaide International on Tuesday, as rising stars Maya Joint and Aleksandar Vukic scored monumental upsets against established global stars.
Vukic Holds Nerve in Tie-Break Thriller
In a remarkable display of composure, qualifier Aleksandar Vukic defeated Greek superstar and two-time grand slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. The match was a tense, serve-dominated affair that featured no breaks of serve across two tightly contested sets.
Vukic held his nerve in the crucial moments, clinching a rousing 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) victory. The 29-year-old Sydneysider fed off the energy of a packed Memorial Drive crowd to secure one of the biggest wins of his career.
"I was talking to my team today and I’m just in awe of this stadium," Vukic said post-match. "To see everyone here — it’s pretty packed — so I appreciate the support, appreciate them helping me out tonight and it was an awesome win for me."
Joint Topples Former Champion Kenin
Hours earlier, 19-year-old Maya Joint delivered a huge confidence-boosting performance by stunning former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Joint fired down six aces and broke the American's serve three times on her way to a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 triumph in one hour and 38 minutes.
The victory was particularly impressive as Joint trailed 4-1 in the second set before mounting a spirited comeback. She saved six of the eight break points she faced, showcasing remarkable resilience.
"I knew that she likes to serve a lot out wide, so I just needed to hang on that serve on the deuce side," Joint revealed about her tactical approach. "I targeted her forehand a bit more because her backhand’s, I think, stronger. So I tried to make her move, mix up some spins."
Building Momentum for Melbourne Park
For Joint, the win marks a significant turnaround after straight-sets losses to multiple grand slam champions Barbora Krejcikova and world No.2 Iga Swiatek at the United Cup in Sydney. She is set to be seeded for the first time at a grand slam at next week's Australian Open.
"I re-watched the matches against both of them," Joint said of her United Cup defeats. "My coach and I went over some small details that I could have improved just to make the match a bit closer. I’ve been working a lot on my serve placement and just accuracy."
Vukic attributed his strong start to the season to a breakout 2025, which included debuting for Australia's Davis Cup team. "I’m about to hit 30, but I feel like I’m at my peak," he said. "It’s only going to get better."
Both Australians now advance to intriguing second-round matchups. Joint will face fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic, while Vukic is set for a clash with fellow qualifier Andrea Vavassori.
