Sonay Kartal reached an important milestone at Wimbledon, advancing for the first time to the third round after defeating French player Clara Burel in a thrilling victory of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Kartal's performance on Court Three earned her a standing ovation and set up a highly anticipated matchup against US Open champion Coco Gauff in the next round.
This success is significant for Kartal, who faced a challenging year marked by health issues that forced her to enter Wimbledon as a qualifier. Despite the setbacks, she demonstrated her resilience early in the tournament, particularly with the biggest win of her career against 29th seed Sorana Cirstea in the first round. The victory over Cirstea provided a confidence boost that propelled her into the second-round clash against world number 45, Burel.
The match against Burel was a true test of Kartal's mental and physical endurance. She started strong, winning the first set 6-3, capitalizing on Burel's mistakes and dominating the rallies with her powerful groundstrokes. In the second set, Kartal jumped to a 3-0 lead and seemed on her way to a straight-sets victory. However, Burel found her rhythm and fought back, taking the set 7-5.
In the third and deciding set, Kartal kept her composure despite the pressure and the significance of the moment. The key point came in the fifth game when she secured a crucial break after a forehand shot hit the net and dropped on Burel's side. From there, Kartal confidently held her serve and closed out the match with a beautiful volley, securing her spot among the last 32.
This victory makes Kartal the first British woman qualifier to reach the third round of Wimbledon since 1997. Reflecting on her achievement, Kartal expressed her joy in overcoming the challenges of the past year to reach this point. Now, with momentum on her side, she eagerly awaits the next round, where she will face a formidable opponent in Gauff, hoping to extend her remarkable run at the All England Club.
