Wimbledon 2024: Sonay Kartal continues dream run to reach third ...

This marks Kartal’s career-best performance at a Grand Slam, with her victory now setting up an epic clash against reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff in the next round.

By achieving this feat, Kartal now becomes the second British woman to reach the third round at Wimbledon as a qualifier in the Open Era, and the first since Karen Cross in 1997.

The 22-year-old now becomes the first Brit to book her spot in the third round, with Lily Miyazaki and Emma Raducanu also bidding to join her as they contest their second round matches later on today.

“Today is a really special day for me” Kartal said in her on-court interview. “To have people up there (in her box) who have been with me since I was six, and again on Monday, that was a high and now I’ve topped that today.”

“I had a tough start to the year, I didn’t know what I’d be doing this year and to come back in and go straight in the deep in and get my biggest win so far – I’m super proud of that.

The British No.9 picked up where she left off in her opening victory against 29 seeded Sorana Cirstea as she claimed a commanding set and double break lead to race ahead 3-0 in the second. However, the world No.45 quickly threw a spanner in the works as pulled the momentum in her direction to win five of the next six games and level the tie.

Having let the second set slip from her grasp, Kartal re-composed herself as we headed into the decider. With Kartal already up a break to the good, Burel sent a wild forehand long to set the Brit up with match point.

The Brighton-born star held her nerve as she hit a flawless volley at the net to secure her second win over a top 50 player in as many days and catapult herself into the third round.

Speaking of her mentality in the third said, Kartal added, “I just tried to put everything behind me. When I needed the crowd the most, they helped me in that third set, so I owe a lot to you guys today.

“It’s going to be a tough match (against Gauff), it’s going to be fun, and I hope I’ll be back and do the British crowd proud.”

Kartal will contest her third round match against Gauff on Friday, with the clash likely to be scheduled on one of the biggest stages at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.