Sonay Kartal shines in Wimbledon spotlight to clinch best grand slam result
She is in the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time in her career after a sizzling 6-4 6-2 victory.
When Jack Draper was knocked out by Marin Cilic on Thursday he admitted the expectation levels surrounding home players made him realise just how big two-time winner Andy Murray's achievements were.
But laid-back Kartal is taking all the hype in her stride as she prepares for a crack at Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the quarter-finals.
'I enjoy it. I think it's an honour,' she said. 'Obviously if you've got a lot of attention on you, it means you're doing good things.
'I'm pretty calm and pretty collected. I don't think it's going to affect me too much. But no, I'm just enjoying it all. I'll still pretty young. It's my first fourth round.
The show must go on 🤩
Sonay Kartal is into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career after defeating Diane Parry 6-4, 6-2 on No.1 Court 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/aaie8y1KQz
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2025
'I feel like I'm going to go out on the court in the next round kind of with nothing to lose at the minute. I'm going to go swinging.
'I think the pressure that I'll feel is the pressure I will be putting on myself just wanting to perform as best as I can.'
Kartal, ranked 298 this time last year, is on the cusp of the top 50 and could even finish the tournament as British number one, usurping Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter.
She is the fourth unseeded British woman to reach the fourth round this century after Laura Robson, Heather Watson and Raducanu.
Kartal has been shining on Court Three this week but on Friday she was first up on Court One, the scene of her defeat by Coco Gauff at the same stage last year.
She made a nervous start, falling 4-1 behind, but then won the next nine games to move a set and 4-0 up on her way to a hugely impressive victory in an hour and 22 minutes.
'I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous walking out there,' she added. 'It's a big court with a match that has a lot of meaning to me.
'Obviously last year, that was also in the back of my mind, losing to Coco on the same court in the same round.
'I tried to take everything I learnt from that match and put it into play on the court, tried to relax as best as I could.
'When I got it level, I felt like I was pretty good. The nerves were gone. I just felt super comfortable out there.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
42 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance
King George hero Calandagan appears far from certain to line up in the Juddmonte International at York next month, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard suggesting he could keep his powder dry for major targets on foreign soil later in the year. Fresh from securing a belated first Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the four-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel to provide his trainer with back-to-back wins in Saturday's Ascot feature following Goliath's triumph 12 months ago. Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,' the trainer told Sky Sports Racing. 'It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he's very efficient. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven't been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders' Cup and Dubai, so I can't keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.' Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam. When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: 'He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess. 'He's a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It's a big question mark. 'If he doesn't go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.' Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.
North Wales Chronicle
42 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance
Fresh from securing a belated first Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the four-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel to provide his trainer with back-to-back wins in Saturday's Ascot feature following Goliath's triumph 12 months ago. Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,' the trainer told Sky Sports Racing. 'It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he's very efficient. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven't been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders' Cup and Dubai, so I can't keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.' Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam. When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: 'He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess. 'He's a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It's a big question mark. 'If he doesn't go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.' Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.
Rhyl Journal
42 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance
Fresh from securing a belated first Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the four-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel to provide his trainer with back-to-back wins in Saturday's Ascot feature following Goliath's triumph 12 months ago. Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,' the trainer told Sky Sports Racing. 'It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he's very efficient. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven't been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders' Cup and Dubai, so I can't keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage. 'I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.' Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam. When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: 'He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess. 'He's a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It's a big question mark. 'If he doesn't go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.' Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.
