Underdog Sonay Kartal has recorded one of the biggest victories of her career after defeating a player ranked more than 200 places higher than her to reach the third round. 

Kartal, who had to come through three rounds of qualifying to make the main draw, produced a shock 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, win over top 50 player Clara Burel. The 22-year-old is making only her third appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam event and had never won a match until this week. Against Burel, she weathered the storm before going on to win five out of the last six games played. 

“Today is a really special day for me. To have people out there who have been with me since I was six. Monday was a high and now I have topped that today,” the Brit said afterwards.

“I just tried to put everything behind me. When I needed the crowd the most they helped me in that third set. I owe that to you guys today.”

It is only the second time in the Open era that a British woman has reached the third round of Wimbledon as a qualifier. The first to do so was Karen Cross in 1997. 

Kartel has shown glimpses of her talent already this season but on the lower-level ITF Tour where she has won a trio of W35 titles. However, she has also been affected by injury during her career, as well as a health scare earlier this season.

“I had a tough start to the year, I didn’t know what I would be doing this year,” Kartel reflected.  
“To come back in and go straight into the deep end, and have my biggest wins so far since recovering, I’m super proud of that.”

Her reward will be a showdown against second seed Coco Gauff in the next round, who won her latest match in straight sets. She has defeated only two top 50 players but both of those were in this tournament. However, facing the reigning US Open champion will be another level. 

“It’s going to be a tough match, it’s going to be a fun match and I hope I can do the British crowd proud.” She admits. 

Meanwhile, Gauff is not underestimating her upcoming opponent when they lock horns on Friday. 

“It will be tough to face a Brit, especially on grass. I think that they always do well, but especially in this environment.” She said. 

Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki has come out in favour of awarding ranking points at the Olympic games due to its status and other tournaments doing so in the same week. 

In recent years points have not been given at the four-year sporting extravaganza, whose tennis event is overseen by the International Tennis Federation. A separate governing body to the ATP and WTA. The last time points were awarded was at the 2012 Games in London when gold medal winners earned 750 points in the men’s draw and 685 in the women’s. 

Wozniacki, who is set to play in her fourth Olympic Games later this year, has called for the system to be brought back. She argues it is logical to do so due to the number of top names participating. 

“I do think the Olympics should have ranking points because it’s usually the best players in the world playing,” said Wozniacki.
“It’s such a huge event and something that means a lot too. It’s special to me personally as well.
“I think ranking points should be awarded to the Olympics. There are tournaments that are going parallel with the Olympics that have ranking points, so there’s no reason why the Olympics shouldn’t have it when they have the top players in the world playing.”

Coinciding with the Paris games this year will be the Citi Open in Washington, which is classed as a 500 event for both men and women. Besides points, prize money will also be on offer. 

Before the Olympics, Wozniacki’s current focus is on Wimbledon where she got off to a dream start on Tuesday. Playing her first Tour-level match at the Grand Slam since 2019, the Dane stormed to a comprehensive 6-2, 6-0, win over Alycia Parks. 

“I’m just happy to be through to the next round,” she commented. 
“When you play a girl like that, you just never know what to expect. That was just a match that I needed to get through. Keep my head down, keep my focus all the way through and that was that.”

Wozniacki will next face 30th seed Leylah Fernandez.

Jessica Pegula intends to take a step-by-step approach to her bid to win her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. 

The fifth seed stormed to a 6-2, 6-0, win over compatriot Ashlyn Krueger in the first round on what was an overcast day at The All England Club. Pegula was rarely troubled in the match as she dropped seven points behind serve and hit 17 winners past her rival. She now has a 4-1 winning record when it comes to first round matches played at the tournament.

Pegula’s latest victory comes during an encouraging grasscourt swing for the American, who was forced to skip the French Open earlier this year due to injury. In Berlin, she won her first WTA trophy on the grass by defeating Anna Kalinskaya in the final. However, she then suffered a first round defeat in Eastbourne to Emma Raducanu. 

“I think you have to put in your mind that you’re here to win matches,” Pegula said during her press conference.
“I’m not really one to be like, I’m going to win Wimbledon. Maybe some people are different and that’s what they like to do.
“I think it’s me, just belief in every single match, maybe not getting too ahead of myself. “

The women’s draw is starting to open up already which could pave the way for the trend of new champions in the women’s event to continue. The past seven editions have been won by seven different players. In the bottom half of this year’s draw, none of those players have previously reached the semi-final stage at Wimbledon. 

“It just goes to show you that anything can happen,” she said.
“There’s a lot of depth. I think a lot of girls get excited a little bit at that fact. You have a chance if you can play well here these two weeks. I think it makes us all a little bit more excited.”

Whilst there are plenty of positives for Pegula, the 30-year-old is refusing to look too far ahead. She has yet to progress beyond the last eight of a major despite her credentials. So far in her career, she has won five WTA titles and earned more than $13M in prize money. 

“It’s nice to be able to get through today, but at the same time, I’m looking forward to the next challenge. You just kind ofhave to take it day by day, especially in a two-week event.” Pegula concluded.