Teenage Australian tennis ace Maya Joint is embroiled in fairly the drama after bursting on to the worldwide stage with a stirring maiden grand slam win on the US Open.
Joint stands to greater than double her profession earnings after holding her nerve to clinch a tension-filled 6-4 7-5 victory over skilled German Laura Siegemund.
However confusion reigns, even amongst tennis officers, over exactly how a lot of the $US140,000 ($A207,000) prize cash Joint is entitled to, given the 18-year-old is dedicated to beginning a psychology diploma on the College of Texas.
NCAA guidelines within the US state: “In tennis, previous to full-time collegiate enrolment, a person could settle for as much as $10,000 per calendar yr in prize cash based mostly on his or her place end or efficiency in open athletics occasions (occasions that aren’t invitation solely).
“As soon as the person has reached the $10,000 restrict in a selected yr, she or he could obtain extra prize cash on a per-event foundation, offered such prize cash doesn’t exceed the person’s precise and mandatory bills for participation within the occasion.”
Maya Joint will double her profession earnings it doesn’t matter what occurs in her subsequent match, except guidelines forbid her from claiming all of the prize cash. (Getty Photos: Robert Prange)
Joint, although, begs to vary.
“It is totally different guidelines for faculty,” she stated on Monday whereas savouring essentially the most vital win of her fledgling profession.
“[As] pupil athletes, you possibly can take the cash from the event however you need to, like, make bills till the tip of the yr.
“So it is totally different from beginner to school.”
A number of former gamers, together with good good friend and confidante Reese Brantmeier are legally difficult the ruling.
“It’s totally difficult,” Joint stated.
“My mum seems at it after which the Texas Compliance Workplace helps me with all that.”
Come what could, Joint is steadfast in her plan to proceed learning.
“I am nonetheless going after this event,” she stated.
“I feel I will go to Austin. My class has truly began at present.
“I made a decision a very long time in the past that I needed to go to school and I wasn’t actually anticipating to get this far [in tennis].
“If I am going to school, then I get my scholarship spot. If I resolve to go professional within the meantime, I can all the time come again on scholarship, which is a giant deal.”
The Michigan-born expertise was eligible to characterize Australia courtesy of her father Michael and switched allegiances final yr, and credit each her dad and mom with having handed down particular sporting pedigree.
Maya Joint will play American Madison Keys within the second spherical. (Getty Photos: Robert Prange)
“My dad’s from Melbourne. He was knowledgeable squash participant,” Joint stated.
“My mum [Katja] is German. She performed tennis when she was youthful and squash and badminton, so we come from a racquet household for positive.”
Set to soar to a career-high quantity 107 on this planet following her impressed run from qualifying, Joint will gatecrash the highest 100 if she will be able to upset former Flushing Meadows finalist Madison Keys within the subsequent spherical.
“I’ve no stress,” she stated.
“I’ve seen Madison Keys play a number of occasions on tv however clearly by no means performed in opposition to her.
“So I am excited.”
And if she does obtain all her US Open prize cash in full?
“It is loopy. I’ve by no means had [that],” Joint stated.
“I do not actually know what to do with it.”
AAP
