Turkish descent Sonay Kartal battles through in Rome
British No. 3 Sonay Kartal, of Turkish descent, fought back to win her Italian Open first round in Rome this week. The victory sends the 23-year-old into the second round.
British No. 3 Sonay Kartal, a talented player with Turkish heritage, began her challenge at the Italian Open in Rome this week with a hard-fought victory. Displaying impressive determination, Kartal came from a set down to defeat Australian opponent Kimberly Birrell with a gritty scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their first-round clash.
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This comeback win secures the 23-year-old's place in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament. Her next match will be a test against the Czech Republic's Linda Noskova, currently ranked World No. 30.
Sonay Kartal, currently ranked 56th in the world, has a notable achievement from last year, having won her only WTA tour title at the Jasmin Open in Tunisia. Born in Sidcup, London, she now resides in Brighton and proudly carries her Turkish descent through her father, a detail that resonates particularly with her Turkish audience.
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Her tennis journey began early; she started playing at the age of six, inspired by watching her older brother on the court. She continues to train at the Pavilion & Avenue Tennis Club in Brighton. Kartal has cited tennis legends Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters as her favorite players.
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Sonay Kartal's resilient comeback win in Rome marks a positive start to her campaign in the Italian capital and a significant step in the tournament.
