Turkish descent Sonay Kartal stuns Ostapenko, leads British charge at Wimbledon
Brighton's own Sonay Kartal, of Turkish descent, has delivered a sensational start for British women at Wimbledon, defeating 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko. The 23-year-old showcased remarkable composure and skill in a hard-fought match, booking her place in the second round and signaling her intent in front of a home crowd.
Sonay Kartal, a 23-year-old rising star from Brighton and of Turkish descent through her father, kicked off Wimbledon's main draw with a stunning victory, becoming the first British player to advance on Day One. In sweltering conditions at SW19, Kartal toppled the formidable 20th seed and former French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko, with a resilient 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 performance.
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Kartal's triumph is particularly significant as she is one of 10 British women competing in the main singles draw at the All England Club this year, marking the highest number since 1992. Her victory sets a strong tone for the British contingent, which totals 23 players across the men's and women's singles draws – the most since 1984.
The match on a lively Court Three saw Kartal display incredible resilience. She fought back from a 5-2 deficit in the opening set, saving set points at 5-4, before going on to win five consecutive games to seize the set. This turnaround was sparked by a wayward forehand from Ostapenko. Despite Ostapenko leveling the match by comfortably taking the second set, largely by reducing her errors, Kartal remained composed amidst her opponent's growing frustration and vocal complaints to the umpire and crowd.
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"That was by far one of the toughest matches I've played," Kartal said after the win, which marked her third victory over a top-20 player this year. She attributed her success to a conscious effort to challenge herself against higher-ranked opponents, knowing it would "eventually pay off."
This victory marks Kartal's second time reaching the second round at Wimbledon, building on a breakout performance last year where, as a wildcard ranked 281 in the world, she reached the third round. Her return this year, now ranked 230 places higher, showcased a calm and mature presence on court. She secured a double break in the deciding set and confidently served out for an impressive win, ensuring a winning start for British women at their home Grand Slam.
