LUCKLESS TOMLJANOVIĆ RETIRES ILL AS JOINT REACHES FIRST WTA FINAL WITH CAREER-HIGH RANK

Maya Joint consoles Ajla Tomljanović with a hug after pulling the pin due to retirement. (Photo WTA)

In what was a quality first set, Ajla Tomljanović unexpectedly retired from her Morocco Open semi-final due to illness, paving the way for fellow Aussie Maya Joint to reach her maiden WTA final.

The pair had never faced each other coming into their clash in Rabat, and it was Joint who struck first to grab the opening set 6-4.

Shop with a 15% storewide discount code: SERVE15 - excludes clearance items, machines, court equipment and gift cards at www.tennisdirect.com.au

However, Tomljanović walked over to Joint's bench to confirm her sudden retirement, as the two players shared a hug.

The world No.79's latest setback now raises doubts about her fitness heading into Roland-Garros, where she is due to face Joint again in the first-round.

Joint, 19, temporarily jumps 17 places to world No.61, in what will be a career-high rank once the rankings update next week.

She is yet to drop a set in the tournament, while also securing victory in the doubles final alongside Georgian Oksana Kalashnikova 6-3 7-5 against Italian pairing Angelica Moratelli and Camilla Rosatello.

Joint will face Kimberly Birrell’s upcoming first-round opponent at the French Open, Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in the final.

Stan Sport is your Home of Grand Slam Tennis. Add the Stan Sport package now to stream the tennis ad-free, live and on demand. To come in 2025: The French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and Laver Cup.  Visit: stan.com.au/watch/sport/tennis