Sonay Kartal achieved a significant milestone at Wimbledon, advancing to the third round for the first time after defeating France’s Clara Burel in a thrilling 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory. Kartal’s performance on Court Three earned her a standing ovation and set up a much-anticipated clash with US Open champion Coco Gauff in the next round.
This success is significant for Kartal, who has battled through a challenging year marked by health problems that forced her to enter Wimbledon as a qualifier. Despite these setbacks, she showcased her resilience early in the tournament, notably with a career-best win against 29th seed Sorana Cirstea in the first round. Her victory over Cirstea was a confidence boost that propelled her into the second-round matchup with world number 45 Burel.
The match against Burel was a test of Kartal’s mental and physical endurance. She started strong, taking the first set 6-3 by capitalizing on Burel’s errors and seizing control of the rallies with her powerful groundstrokes. In the second set, Kartal jumped out to a 3-0 lead and appeared poised for a straight-set win. However, Burel found her rhythm and fought back to level the match, taking the second set 7-5.
In the decisive third set, Kartal remained composed, despite the pressure and the significance of the moment. The key moment came in the fifth game when she earned a crucial break of serve after a forehand clipped the net cord and landed on Burel’s side. From there, Kartal held serve confidently, closing out the match with a well-executed volley that sealed her place in the last 32.
This victory makes Kartal the first British female qualifier to reach the Wimbledon third round since 1997. Reflecting on her achievement, Kartal expressed her delight at overcoming the challenges of the past year to reach this point. Now, with momentum on her side, she looks forward to the next round, where she will face a formidable opponent in Gauff, hoping to extend her remarkable run at the All England Club.
