United Cup Prediction: Maya Joint vs Malene Helgo
01:30 AM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Maya Joint -2500 / Malene Helgo +1100
Tournament Details
Tournament name: United Cup
Host cities: Perth, Sydney
Date: 2 – 11 January 2026
Field: 18 countries
Total prize money: $11,806,190
Maya Joint vs Malene Helgo Preview
Maya Joint is getting her 2026 season up and running at the United Cup, where she will be Australia’s No. 1 women’s singles player. This will be her debut in the event and a show of appreciation for her efforts in 2025. Joint enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough season on the WTA Tour, winning two tour-level titles (one in Rabat and the other in Eastbourne).
Joint made three more semifinals at the tour level and scored some stunning wins against the seasoned pros. The 19-year-old became the youngest Australian player to win a match at the WTA 1000 level since Ashleigh Barty and completed the year by guiding Australia into the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers with two singles wins.
Joint finished the season at a career-high ranking of World No. 32, which would be enough to grant her a seeding spot at her home Grand Slam at the Australian Open later in January. Overall, she compiled 54 wins and 28 losses and was one of the favorites to win the WTA’s Newcomer of the Year award, which was eventually won by Victoria Mboko.
Malene Helgo has represented Norway in the United Cup in each of the previous three editions. This will be her fourth appearance, once more teaming up with Casper Ruud, and the pair will bid to steer their country into the knockout phase for the first time.
Helgo has played seven matches and lost all of them. She has picked up only three sets and was outplayed by Karolina Muchova and Iga Swiatek in last year’s tournament. In 2025, Helgo compiled 25 wins and 28 losses. She finished the season ranked outside the top 500.
Maya Joint vs Malene Helgo Head-To-Head
Joint and Helgo have played once on the ITF circuit in 2024. Joint won in straight sets.
Maya Joint vs Malene Helgo Prediction
Even though she hasn’t taken part in the United Cup before, Joint should be winning this match at a canter. She’s had an outstanding breakout season at the tour level and accomplished so much. Joint has a high tennis IQ for a player of her age, and she’s got a backhand that will do a lot of damage in this match. Back Joint to cover the -6.5 games handicap in front of an expectant Australian crowd.