Maya Joint vs Elise Mertens Prediction & Picks - Hobart International

Prediction published on 1/9/25, 7:48 AM  by Tyler Doty | Modified on 1/9/25 at 7:51 AM in Tennis Picks

The semi-final of the WTA Hobart tournament features 18-year-old Australian Maya Joint and Belgian Elise Mertens. Wild card Maya Joint was the surprise of the tournament. In fact, the young Australian won 3 consecutive matches in just 2 sets, starting with world number 53 Olga Danilovic. She then pulled off a surprise in the Round of 16, dispatching number 4 seed Magda Linette 6-1, 6-1 in just 1 hour. But the Australian didn't stop there, reproducing a similar victory over Sofia Kenin in 64 minutes in the quarter-finals.

Elise Mertens, meanwhile, is the tournament's number 2 seed. She began her season here in Hobart, winning her first match in just 76 minutes against qualifier Nuria Parrizas-Diaz (world no. 104). She then defeated world No. 76 Renata Zarazua 6-4, 6-3 before eliminating world No. 77 Veronika Kudermetova in a 3-set match. Last year's runner-up should be keen to exact her revenge this season, by reaching the final once again and ending the tournament with a victory. However, she will be up against an opponent with nothing to lose.