Remember the massive form that the British Sonay Kartal presented in her first-round match at Wimbledon? The 22-year-old presented a swift defeat to Sorana Cirstea after coming a long way through the qualifiers. While it was the first showdown for her rival, Kartal stood on a pile of three victories already. Bageling Cirstea, in the third set shows an affinity for grass, with the story uncovering a strengthened admiration for the grass-court legend Roger Federer.

In an interview with the Lawn tennis Association, she justified her excellence with the fact that she follows none other than the perfectionist. “I think everyone loves Roger Federer; my dad loves Roger Federer. When I played Juniors, I managed to see him in the changing rooms and grabbed a photo with him, so it’s probably still one of my favorite photos,” she said. Kartal’s admiration for Federer is clear as she looks up to him as a tennis legend and, therefore, looks up to him.

The 22-year-old Sonay Kartal spent a crucial part of her journey in Brighton after moving from her birthplace, South-East London. Her journey towards the sport started when she was just a teenager and was influenced by her older brother. Revealing the reason behind her interest in the sport, she said “I have got an older brother, and he used to play just for fun. I just used to sit on the grass and watch him play, and that’s how it all began.”

Growing up, Kartal admired stars like Kim Clijsters and Andy Murray as well. She appreciates Andy for his support of women’s tennis, saying, “Andy for what he has done for women’s tennis, and the way he goes about it, he is very professional.” Her role models not only motivated her to be a better player but also a serious one.

Kartal’s dedication paid off as she navigated her way through the qualifiers to play at Wimbledon. She faced Sorana Cirstea in the first round and won. After her victory, the young Briton shared her excitement, saying, “My greatest and definitely my proudest feeling. Getting a first win at any slam, and to have it at Wimbledon makes it extra special.”

Kartal is now looking forward to her upcoming showdown against Clara Burel. However, her run ahead of the second round is with doubts about health issues she encountered earlier this year.

Sonay Kartal ’health-related’ issue could have put her out of commission for the season

Kartal found herself in dreamland after the recent victory over the 29th seed Sorana Cirstea. While it was the first win of her career at the Wimbledon main draws, all she could think about was being happy. “To have the people around me that I’ve spent my whole life since I was six playing with, they were here to experience that with me, I think that made it extra special today,” the 22-year-old said, mentioning how it was something she always wished for.

Although she has managed to enter the event with sheer determination, her journey in the tournament could be hindered because of the effect of health issues that she incurred in the past. “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,” she shared, being discreet about the actual condition.

While she has successfully managed to cross a milestone by beating the illness and getting back on track, who knows what miracles she has stored in the box?