SONAY KARTAL is the British qualifier making up for lost time at this year’s Wimbledon’s Championships.
Thirteen wildcards were awarded to British players for the singles events in SW19.
World No298 Kartal, 22, was not one of them.
While many of her compatriots were practising at the All England Club, or playing in various warm-up events in Eastbourne and Mallorca, last week Kartal was having to scrap through qualifying a few miles away from Wimbledon in Roehampton.
She earned her place in the main draw by stringing together wins over Suzan Lamens, Wei Sijia and Erika Andreeva.
And while several of the Brits that did receive wildcards fell in round one, Kartal impressively toppled experienced 29th seed Sorana Cirstea 3-6 6-2 6-0 – at the time becoming just the third Brit through on day one of the Championships alongside Emma Raducanu and Lily Miyazaki.
Following her first round success, she revealed that a health scare suffered earlier this year left her wondering if she’d be able to compete at Wimbledon at all.
She said: “I had a scary few months at the start of the year. I said I won’t disclose what it was, but it was health-related. I didn’t think I would be back potentially at all this year.
“It was tough sitting on the sidelines for a few months and watching your friends play, etc.
“But I’ve got a great team around me, a doctor that when I thought I wouldn’t be back was completely determined, changed my mind that I would.
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“I had full faith and fully believed she would get me back on the court.”
Next up was a second round tussle with French world No45 Clara Burel on No3 Court.
Kartal took the first set 6-3, before squandering a double break lead in the second to allow Burel to level the match at 6-3 5-7.
Amazingly the hometown hopeful managed to wrestle back momentum, taking the third set 6-3 to book a dream third round clash with second seed Coco Gauff.
While this will represent her first shot at the big stage, the understated Londoner is unlikely to be overawed.
Having grown up playing with 2021 US Open champion Raducanu, Kartal believes that injury trouble has been the main factor holding her back.
In an interview with the UK Pro League, she said: “My story is a little different to Emma’s because I have had some injury problems that have hampered me, but we can all take inspiration from her success.”
On Raducanu, she added: “I grew up playing Emma, so it proves to me that the dream of making it in tennis is not too far away.
“It has put into perspective for all the British players just how possible it could be to breakthrough.”
Kartal has watched some of the biggest stars that tennis has ever seen throughout her formative years… but two stand above all others.
Asked who her favourites were, she said: “Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters.
“It has been amazing to watch this era of tennis with Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic and I don’t think we will ever see three players competing against each other like that again. It has been incredible to watch.”
After breezing past Anca Todoni for the loss of just three games, Gauff was asked about the prospect of facing Kartal.
The reigning US Open champion admitted: “I don’t know much, to be honest. I knew she was up, winning this match.
“I was looking at some of her results just to prepare and pick and choose what matches I might want to watch.
“Now I see it’s a third set, so I don’t know. I will do that afterwards, depending on the winner.
“But it will be tough to face a Brit obviously, especially on grass. I think that they always do really well, but especially in this environment.”
Gauff will go into the match as red-hot favourite to reach round four.
But whatever happens, cool as a cucumber Kartal is likely to take it in her stride.
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