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.

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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 moves into the top-60 and is guaranteed to achieve a new career-high ranking (currently 78th).

She is yet to drop a set in the tournament, and is also scheduled to feature in the doubles final alongside Georgian Oksana Kalashnikova.

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