Maya Joint vs Sorana Cirstea Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Aussie teenager Joint to claim first Indian Wells win

I feel there hasn't been enough hype surrounding Joint - the 18-year-old is the second-youngest player inside the world's top 150 (behind only Mirra Andreeva) and she's experienced a rapid rise to a live ranking of No. 80 (after starting last year at No. 684). Joint has won 15 of her last 20 matches heading into this tournament, and after qualifying for the main draw, I'm backing her to secure an opening round win. Cirstea has been a great player for a long time now, but she hasn't played much after foot surgery and is certainly in the twilight of her career at 34 years of age. Five of Cirstea's last six matches have gone the distance (as has Joint's last three), so I'm backing a three-setter, with the Aussie edging it.

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Joint has enjoyed a whirlwind last 12 months or so, swiftly rising up the rankings and foregoing a previous college tennis commitment in order to immediately turn pro.

It's proven a great decision, with Joint securing her first Grand Slam win at the US Open last year before continuing to take her game to the next level.

The 18-year-old has won 15 of her last 20 matches at all levels in 2025, including making her maiden WTA semi-final in Hobart and reaching the quarter-finals recently at the 500-level event in Merida, where she absolutely blitzed top 20 player Donna Vekic 6-1 6-2.

Joint has maintained her good form, qualifying for her first Indian Wells main draw with wins over Anastasia Zakharova and Mirjam Bjorklund.

Cirstea has seemingly been on tour forever, turning pro all the way back in 2006 and reaching a career-high ranking of No. 21 in 2013.

The Romanian has dealt with her fair share of injuries over the course of her career, including a most-recent setback that required foot surgery, which kept her sidelined for five months at the end of 2024.

Cirstea returned to action for the Australian swing, but went 0-2 in Adelaide and the AO.

However, the 34-year-old has recaptured some good form as of late, making the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 event in Dubai (beating Daria Kasatkina and Emma Navarro along the way) before also reaching the last eight in Austin, going down to McCartney Kessler.