Laid-back Sonay Kartal is taking the Wimbledon spotlight in her stride – even if a trip to the shops proved trickier than usual.
All eyes are on Kartal as the only British woman to reach the fourth round after Emma Raducanu’s brave defeat by top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Friday night.
Should she beat Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Centre Court on Sunday, the 23-year-old will become the first British woman to reach the last eight since Johanna Konta in 2019.
Kartal was back on court on Saturday, playing doubles with her close friend and fellow Briton Jodie Burrage.
“She’s definitely got more cameras on her now. I have noticed that,” said Burrage. “That’s expected, you know.
“It was nice to play a doubles match with that atmosphere. It was packed on that court. Unfortunately we couldn’t get them going a little bit more because we lost.
“But it was fun. She is taking it like a champion. She loves the limelight.”
Kartal rolls her eyes, not for the first time, as her pal gently teases her.
But the Brighton pro’s run in SW19 has captured the public’s imagination, as she found out on Friday evening after her third-round win over Diane Parry.
“I went to the shops and it was a bit tricky,” she said. “That’s something I will have to get used to for the next few weeks.
Sonay Kartal you are sensational 👊#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/3PjDp2L4mz
— LTA (@the_LTA) July 4, 2025
“Listen, people think I don’t like it as my whole life I have gone under the radar a bit, but I don’t have an issue with being in the spotlight or not.
“If the spotlight is on you it means you are doing good things. I am taking it as a compliment.”
It is not just Kartal’s tennis that is the hot topic in south-west London, but also her tattoos.
She got her 14th after winning her first match at the French Open last month and is now taking suggestions for ink number 15.
“I’ve had a few – Jodie’s idea of having Centre Court was terrible,” she laughed.
“I won’t get that. Someone said I should get the vintage polo top that I’ve been wearing, I don’t know if it is possible. Maybe a fire and ice tattoo. I like that – but it would remind me of Jodie!”
Kartal found out she will be making her debut on Centre Court on Sunday just before she played her doubles match, and she has no intention of it being her last time this fortnight.
“It’s a huge honour to play on that court. A court that you dream of,” she said.
“The way I am looking at it is that it’s a slightly bigger Court One. Warming up on Court One a couple of days ago will help me. I will feel much better walking out on Centre.
“I know I am far from finished yet. I have done one week – got another week to go to the finish line.
“There have been some crazy results. I have been given a good spot in the draw, things have opened up. I am excited and will enjoy every second.”
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