Who Is Sonay Kartal? Meet Emma Raducanu’s Friend Whose Health Scare Almost Nearly Forced Her to Pull out of Wimbledon

Britain’s WTA star Sonay Kartal is the latest talk of the town. After struggling for two years, Kartal has finally reached round 2 at Wimbledon. Despite winning it well, Emma Raducanu’s British colleague revealed a serious health problem that could disparage her participation in the grass slam. While expressing her pride in overcoming that situation, Kartal revealed how “tough” it was for her to return to the court.

Kartal defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 to enter the second round at SW19. Despite turning heads with her initial performance at the British Slam, Kartal suffered a major health problem earlier this season, leaving her the option to attend only two tournaments from April to September. “I had a couple of health issues at the start of this year. Pretty serious. I won’t go into the detail but I didn’t think I’d be on tour this year,” Kartal said.

Mentioning how “super proud” she is, Kartal delved into the challenges that almost caused her to withdraw from Wimbledon. “It was tough. Sitting back on the sidelines and watching all your friends play. It was pretty scary at the time.” Kartal also thanked the people around her. “I’m super grateful that I’ve got great people and great doctors around me that have made a massive effort to get me back on court,” she said.

Revealing how she “took it slow,” Kartal mentioned not wanting to “rush” on getting back to court. Showing her “sensible” side, this British WTA star “listened to” her body and now feels that it is “in a really good place.” 

Kartal also stunned everyone with her selection in Team Britain for the Billie Jean King Cup this year alongside former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Speaking about their bond, Kartal said, “I am familiar will all the girls… Emma and I, we’ve grown up playing each other.” Following her amazing performance, she might finally face off against Raducanu at Wimbledon.

Nevertheless, the first-round victory truly delighted the British WTA star. Her post-match statement was a testament to her extreme happiness in achieving this feat.

Sonay Kartal reveals that her Wimbledon 2024 first-round victory is her “proudest” moment

Despite having health issues, Kartal performed well in the qualifiers, showing signs of a skilled playstyle in Wimbledon. Given that she also thought she wouldn’t be able to attend Wimbledon, this victory truly warmed her heart. “My greatest and definitely my proudest [moment]. I think getting a first win at any slam and to have it at Wimbledon makes it extra special,” Kartal said.

This British WTA star debuted at Wimbledon in 2022 as a wildcard entry. However, she lost it to Netherlands’ Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in round 1 by 4-6, 6-3, 1-6. She experienced a first-round defeat in 2023 as well, this time against America’s Madison Keys. Following her first time entering the second round, it must have been unbelievable and amazing for Kartal.

Sonay Kartal’s performance at Wimbledon, despite serious health issues, is inspirational. Kartal proved that if one is dedicated to a goal, then no obstacle can stop one from achieving that goal.