Rising Aussie star Maya Joint pulls off epic fightback to win crucial Wimbledon warm-up tournament

Rising Aussie tennis star Maya Joint has won the biggest tournament of her career, taking out the Eastbourne Open in a marathon final, a traditional Wimbledon lead-up tournament.

The 19-year-old saved four match points in a thrilling third set tiebreak to defeat Alexandra Eala 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) in just shy of two and a half hours.

She was at one point 5-2 down in the tiebreak but dug deep with some stunning defensive play which forced Eala into errors. Joint finally sealed the win with a backhand winner and collapsed to the turf in jubilation.

READ MORE: Rare Piastri outburst as rival's spin duds him of pole shot

READ MORE: Warriors gun's Dally M charge crippled by ACL blow

READ MORE: Bennett's blunt advice to Maroons selectors over dilemma

She is the first Aussie to win the traditional Wimbledon warm-up in the event's 50-year history.

"I'm very happy right now, feeling very relieved as well. It was a very difficult match," Joint said.

"I'm proud of myself for coming back and staying in the match, even though I'd lost about nine of the last 10 games.

"I'm glad I was able to find a way back. Alex played really well today. She definitely tested me and after the first set she got very aggressive."

It was a painful defeat for Eala, who was hoping to become the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title.

But for Joint, the win underlines her status as a potential dark horse for Wimbledon, which begins Monday night (AEST).

She won her maiden WTA Title on clay at the Morocco Open in May, and then in Eastbourne beat former Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur, former US Open winner Emma Raducanu, Anna Blinkova and former French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on her way to the final. Three of the five wins came in straight sets.

After that title in Morocco, she lost to compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round of the French Open the following day.

"It's really great preparation. I've got a lot of matches in before Wimbledon, and hopefully I can be in Wimbledon a little bit longer than I was in the French," Joint said.

"I think this time's a tiny bit different. I get one more day of rest, and I'll just detach myself a little bit more from the last match, and just focus on the match coming up.

"But I'm just really excited to get to London later today and step into Wimby for the first time."

Joint was unable to make it two trophies in the same day, when she and partner Hsieh Su-wei lost the women's doubles final 6-4, 5-7 to Anna Danilina and Marie Bouzkova.

Joint will play 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the first round at Wimbledon.