Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Maya Joint Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Joint targets fourth top 30 scalp of 2025

Joint has put together a fantastic year to surge into the world's top 50 and she continues to break new ground, reaching the third round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in Cincinnati. The 19-year-old registered her third top 30 scalp of the season in the previous round, taking out Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets, and she'll be hoping for another big win here. Alexandrova meanwhile is also having a great year, but she's never played well in Cincinnati, failing to progress past the second round in six previous main draw appearances before this tournament.

I think this is a great chance for Joint to continue her outstanding breakout season. Alexandrova is very hot and cold and after impressive clay and grass swings, I'm not sure she has the consistency to keep going during the North American hardcourt summer. Backing the Aussie to grind out another three-set victory.

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Alexandrova comes into this contest with a 31-16 record on the season and is currently one spot off her career-high ranking of No. 15.

The 30-year-old secured her fifth WTA title in Linz at the start of the season and has put together lots of solid results, including reaching the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 event in Doha, where she beat World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula along the way.

More semi-finals in Charleston, Stuttgart and s-Hertogenbosch, along with R16 finishes at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, have contributed to Alexandrova reaching a career-high ranking of No. 15.

Alexandrova didn't have a great start to her hardcourt summer, losing her opening match in Montreal to Lin Zhu, but she's off the mark here in Cincinnati, cruising past Lulu Sun 6-4 6-2 - meaning after a bye, she's reached the third round at this tournament for the first time.

Joint heads into this encounter with a brilliant 41-19 record at all levels this season, hitting a career-high ranking of No. 37 and coming into Cincinnati at a current mark of No. 44.

The 19-year-old has picked up her first two WTA titles on the clay of Rabat and grass of Eastbourne, while she's knocked off three top 30 players throughout the course of the year.

One of just three teenagers in the world's top 50 (the others being Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko), Joint has now made the third round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in Cincinnati this week.

Joint was a comfortable 6-2 6-3 winner over Greet Minnen in her opening match before digging deep to overcome World No. 21 Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4 4-6 6-4 to advance into the R32.