Arabic version: مشوار جوينت في بان باسيفيك ينتهي عند ربع النهائي

According to ABC News, Maya Joint’s encouraging Pan Pacific Open campaign in Japan ended in a three-set quarterfinal defeat to Kamilla Rakhimova in Tokyo on Friday, local time. Rakhimova won 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 at the WTA 500 event.

The Australian, ranked 94th in the world, had reached the last eight after earlier victories over sixth-seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea and Spain’s Cristina Bucsa. Rakhimova took a tight opening set 7-5, before Joint levelled the match by claiming the second set by the same scoreline.

Joint had the stronger first-serve percentage, landing 66 per cent to Rakhimova’s 59 per cent, and served five aces compared with one. But the world number 66 was more effective returning serve, converting six of 12 break points she created. Joint converted three break points.

Despite the defeat, the late-season Asian swing has provided a confidence boost for the 20-year-old. Joint was ranked at a career-high number 28 in February, but her year had been underwhelming until she reached last month’s Korea Open final in Seoul, where she lost to compatriot Kim Birrell. She is planning her Australian Open campaign in January.

Rakhimova will face Leylah Fernandez in the semifinals after world number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from their quarterfinal with an undisclosed injury. Rybakina, the reigning Australian and US Open champion, told fans she had been struggling for several days with “a little injury” and needed to be ready for next month’s WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California.