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 12 months in prize cash primarily based 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 12 months, she or he could obtain further prize cash on a per-event foundation, offered such prize cash doesn’t exceed the person’s precise and vital 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 Pictures: Robert Prange)
Joint, although, begs to vary.
“It is totally different guidelines for school,” she mentioned on Monday whereas savouring essentially the most vital win of her fledgling profession.
“[As] scholar athletes, you possibly can take the cash from the match however it’s a must to, like, make bills till the top of the 12 months.
“So it is totally different from beginner to school.”
A number of former gamers, together with good pal and confidante Reese Brantmeier are legally difficult the ruling.
“It’s extremely difficult,” Joint mentioned.
“My mum appears to be like at it after which the Texas Compliance Workplace helps me with all that.”
Come what could, Joint is steadfast in her plan to proceed finding out.
“I am nonetheless going after this match,” she mentioned.
“I believe I’ll go to Austin. My class has truly began immediately.
“I made a decision a very long time in the past that I wished to go to school and I wasn’t actually anticipating to get this far [in tennis].
“If I’m going to school, then I get my scholarship spot. If I determine to go professional within the meantime, I can at all times come again on scholarship, which is a giant deal.”
The Michigan-born expertise was eligible to symbolize Australia courtesy of her father Michael and switched allegiances final 12 months, and credit each her mother and father with having handed down particular sporting pedigree.
Maya Joint will play American Madison Keys within the second spherical. (Getty Pictures: Robert Prange)
“My dad’s from Melbourne. He was an expert squash participant,” Joint mentioned.
“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 the earth following her impressed run from qualifying, Joint will gatecrash the highest 100 if she will upset former Flushing Meadows finalist Madison Keys within the subsequent spherical.
“I’ve no stress,” she mentioned.
“I’ve seen Madison Keys play a number of instances 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 mentioned.
“I do not actually know what to do with it.”
AAP
