Emerging Australian tennis star Maya Joint is adamant about pursuing her college dream, even if it costs her almost $200,000.

The 18-year-old was supposed to have pocketed a cheque for $US140,000 ($207,000) – which would more than double her career on-court earnings thus far – for reaching the second round of the US Open in New York earlier this week.

But under the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which regulates student athletics in the US, athletes can receive only $US10,000 ($14,750) annually in prize money, plus any other amount used to cover tournament expenses.

Joint has enrolled to major in psychology at the University of Texas and remains committed to completing her studies, come what may.

Her course started this week and the Michigan-born teenager plans to study mostly online from her bases in Austin and Brisbane.

Joint’s squash coach father is from Australia, and she switched allegiances last year.

Several past and present players are legally challenging the NCAA prize money rules, including Joint’s friend Reese Brantmeier. Joint is leaving the matter to others.

“The whole thing is just very confusing, but I’ll just have to sit down with my team and figure it out,” she said.

Tennis-wise, Joint is also uncertain about her next move.

“Not quite sure what my next move is,” she said.

“I’m supposed to go to Guadalajara for a tournament, but we’ll see.”

Joint’s efforts in winning three qualifying matches and then beating German veteran Laura Siegemund in the first round of the main draw will send her soaring to a career-high ranking.

Tennis Australia’s newest star is projected to jump 27 spots to No.108 in the world and is on track to gain direct entry to the Australian Open in January.

And Joint feels she belongs after going toe to toe with former finalist Madison Keys for much of their match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday (local time).

“It was a competitive first set and I had my chances but she played really well,” Joint said after the American’s 6-4 6-0 victory.

“She lifted in the second set for sure and, yeah, I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

-AAP