Maya Joint has vowed she is ready to take on world No.2 Iga Swiatek as Australia battles Poland in the quarter finals of the United Cup in Sydney on Friday night.
Australia's top-ranked woman, the 19-year-old self-proclaimed Ginger Ninja was forced to miss Australia's opening tie against Norway with illness, and looked far from her best against the Czechs and Barbora Krejcikova, going down in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday.
Joint has played Swiatek only once before – in the semi-final of the Korea Open last September. She was blown off the court 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour.
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But Joint says she has returned to full fitness, and is ready for whatever the former world No.1 throws at her.
"I have nothing to lose – just go out there and swing," she said on 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio on Thursday.
"I have the home crowd support behind me. Our last match was pretty quick – I think I lost in under an hour, so I hope I can just drag it out a little bit longer.
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"She played some really great tennis last time, but I've had some really good practices this week."
Joint said she was disappointed to miss the Norway tie, but conceded it was the right call to make.
Joint will play Swiatek in the opening rubber on Ken Rosewall Arena, before Alex de Minaur does battle with Hubert Hurkacz. Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith will then team up against Swiatek and Hurkacz in the mixed doubles.
The winner then faces Team USA on Saturday.
On Thursday night, Belgium booked its semi-final spot by beating Czechia 2-1.
Zizou Bergs comfortably beat Jakub Mensik 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the men's rubber, before Elise Mertens rallied from a set down against Krejcikova to win in three 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 and clinch the tie.
The Czechs picked up a consolation rubber in the mixed doubles, with Linda Fruhvirtova and Dalibor Svrcina beating Greet Minnen and Sander Gille 6-7, 6-3, [10-3].
Belgium will play Switzerland in the first semi-final on Saturday morning.
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