The hallowed halls of Wimbledon echo with a new name: Sonay Kartal. Her career has blossomed on the grass courts, each victory a whisper of admiration rippling through the All-England Club. But amidst the champagne and cheers, Sonay remains refreshingly grounded. Unlike the usual trappings of fame, she prioritizes normalcy in her love life. Even under the glistening spotlight, Sonay and her boyfriend, Luke Ogbourn, maintain separate gym routines.

The details about the beginning of a romantic journey between Obgourn and Kartal have remained a mystery. However, their first picture together on Ogbourn’s account is from last November, so it can be assumed they’ve been together for a while now! Speaking to Express Sport ahead of her third-round clash against Coco Gauff on Friday, the 22-year-old shared insights into her gyming sessions. When questioned if she works out with Ogbourn, Kartal said, “We don’t gym together at all.” For the unversed, Kartal’s boyfriend is a bodybuilder and strongman. According to the information on his Instagram bio, he won a silver medal at the United Kingdom’s Strongest Man U23 2024 and grabbed gold in Iron Beasts 2024. 

Achieving such feats requires intense gyming sessions which do not align with the ones that tennis players go through. Explaining the same, Kartal said, “I don’t lift cars and pull cars and things like that. Tennis is very specific training whereas he is just lifting as much weight as possibly as physically you can.” Besides not training with her boyfriend, the tennis star does not prefer going to high-class gym facilities either. 

While most players train at top facilities reserved for elite athletes, Sonay Kartal is a regular at one of the UK’s cheapest high-street gyms. In fact, the World No. 298 prefers continuing her membership even after her Wimbledon campaign is over. “Sometimes I just like to, it’s nice to go somewhere where it’s just completely not tennis and just completely different environment, fun environment. So that’s my choice, that one.” On a challenging note, the rising star has something unique in store for her coach.

‘I’ll just get him to…’ Sonay Kartal to make coach do something unique if she wins over Coco Gauff

Kartal’s exceptional run at Wimbledon is giving her motivation to take up new challenges not just on, but off the court as well. Kartal and her team seem to keep things light by making bets during her career-best run. Now, the 22-year-old has revealed that she will make her coach get a new tattoo if she manages to defeat Coco Gauff in the third round at Wimbledon. 

The 22-year-old already has several tattoos and is eyeing up a Wimbledon-themed one for both herself and her long-time coach. “I think I will probably end up getting one.” Speaking about her coach, she added, “But coach has a few so I reckon I can wangle one from him as well.” However, she has not decided exactly what will the tattoo be. 

“I don’t know, maybe I’ll just get him to add like a strawberry or something somewhere. I mean, it’s obviously got to be something that symbolizes Wimbledon. With him, I feel like I can talk him into it.” It will be interesting to see if Sonay Kartal can continue her winning momentum and actually oust the World No. 2 Coco Gauff to accomplish her plan with her coach.