Connect with us

CELEBRITY

Bridge too far as spirited Sonay Kartal gives way to Coco Gauff’s superiority

Published

on

For about half an hour on No 1 Court, Sonay Kartal conjured up thoughts of a major upset as she went toe to toe with Coco Gauff, one of the favourites for the women’s title. The first British qualifier to reach the third round here since 1997, Kartal was not fazed by the occasion or opponent, and recovered an early break for 4-4 before the second seed pulled away for a 6-4, 6-0 victory.

Ranked 298, the 22-year-old Kartal will now return to the world’s top 200 at a career-high 189, reward for qualifying and then beating seasoned players in Sorana Cirstea and Clara Burel. The No 2 seed proved a bridge too far, but the progress is encouraging.

Gauff, meanwhile, is through to the fourth round without dropping a set as she tries to add Wimbledon to her first slam title, won at the US Open last summer. She will play a fellow American, the No 19 seed Emma Navarro, next.

Emma Raducanu powers past Maria Sakkari to reach Wimbledon last 16
“I thought I played really well,” Gauff said. “She was playing high level, especially in the first set. She wasn’t giving me much to work with and she mixes it up, so you never feel settled. I was just trying to make [fewer] mistakes. Eventually I found it and I was able to do well.”

The first time Jasmine Paolini played on grass, she was not quite sure what to make of it all. Having grown up on clay, ­the Italian had really only seen grass-court tennis on television, so when she arrived in England in 2016 it was an unusual feeling.

“[It was] the first time I [tried to] qualify for Wimbledon,” she said. “It was a really weird relationship with grass, I think. I remember I won with [Aryna] Sabalenka … in Ilkley. I said, ‘oh, maybe I can play here’. But then the year after that win, I played not so well. My coach was telling me: ‘Look, you can play well,’ but I wasn’t ­believing it. Now I am enjoying it. I think it’s nice to play on grass. I played a good week last week in Eastbourne. I’m feeling good at the moment.”

So she should be. Having begun the year ranked 29, Paolini won her second WTA Tour title in Dubai in February and then enjoyed a breakthrough run to the final at the French Open, only losing out to Iga Swiatek, the now four-time champion.

On Friday she continued to make the transition from clay to grass look easy as she beat Bianca Andreescu, the former US Open champion, 7-6 (4), 6-1 to reach the fourth round. Until this year she had not won a match at Wimbledon in three ­previous attempts.

“I think I played a really good match,” she said. “It was not easy. She’s a great player, a grand slam champion. So I’m really happy.”

At 5ft 4in Paolini is one of the ­shortest players on the Tour. What she might lack in height, she more than makes up for through her ­movement and her racket-head speed, which can turn defence into attack in a flash. Her low centre of gravity is also a bonus on grass, where the ball bounces less, especially in the cooler conditions she has faced throughout the first week.

Next up for Paolini is Madison Keys, a former US Open finalist and a quarter-finalist at ­Wimbledon twice. The American took care of Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3 and will present Paolini with new problems.

“It’s going to be tough,” the Italian admitted. “I think last year I [won] two games against her in Dubai. But I hope it’s going to be a different match. I practised with her in Eastbourne once. [I’m] looking forward to this match. I hope to play a good match and we will see.”

This time last year, Paula Badosa had to retire on court with a lower back injury that kept her off the Tour until just a couple of months ago. On Friday the Spaniard burst into tears after her 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4 win over Daria Kasatkina, the winner in Eastbourne last weekend.

“It’s not my first time in a second week, but I think it’s the most special,” said the former world No 2, who reached the last 16 in 2021 and 2022. “I’m really proud of myself. I’ve been struggling a lot with injuries.

“For me, it meant so much. Last year here I had to retire. Then it took me At the start of the year I felt myself so far away … now seeing myself back at it, it means a lot.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

David Beckham's 17-year-old daughter Harper is reportedly pregnant, but shockingly reveals the baby's real father is...
CELEBRITY2 weeks ago

David Beckham’s 17-year-old daughter Harper is reportedly pregnant, but shockingly reveals the baby’s real father is…

Taylor Swift Declares She’ll Never Return to Kansas: The pop superstar reportedly lashed out following a shocking revelation that has rocked her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce. Sources close to the singer suggest that something Travis did pushed her beyond her breaking point—and once you discover the 𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮👇
CELEBRITY2 weeks ago

Taylor Swift Declares She’ll Never Return to Kansas: The pop superstar reportedly lashed out following a shocking revelation that has rocked her relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce. Sources close to the singer suggest that something Travis did pushed her beyond her breaking point—and once you discover the 𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮👇

Royal Family Update: Prince William Shares Uplifting News as Princess Kate Undergoes Second Round of Chemotherapy — ‘I regret keeping her illness private for two years… she has been fighting a difficult battle.’…
CELEBRITY2 weeks ago

Royal Family Update: Prince William Shares Uplifting News as Princess Kate Undergoes Second Round of Chemotherapy — ‘I regret keeping her illness private for two years… she has been fighting a difficult battle.’…

CELEBRITY2 weeks ago

Breaking: Brittany Mahomes Reveals Golden Raye’s Face for the First Time—Then Stuns Fans With a Jaw-Dropping Surprise About Her Newborn!

CELEBRITY2 weeks ago

CONGRATULATIONS! Serena Williams the Tennis Legend Ignites the Internet with Stunning Bikini Photos, Showcasing Baby Bump in Third Pregnancy Extravaganza!

Breaking: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Signs 3-year $850 Million Endorsement Deal with The Coco Gauff ,For Agreeing To.... 📰 READ FULL STORY HERE ⤵️⤵️
CELEBRITY3 weeks ago

Breaking: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Signs 3-year $850 Million Endorsement Deal with The Coco Gauff ,For Agreeing To…. 📰 READ FULL STORY HERE ⤵️⤵️

BREAKING: Jennifer Lopez Is Getting Married Again — And You’ll Be Speechless When You See WHO It Is! 💔⤵️
CELEBRITY3 weeks ago

BREAKING: Jennifer Lopez Is Getting Married Again — And You’ll Be Speechless When You See WHO It Is! 💔⤵️

Congratulations to Kate and William! The DNA test results of Lilibet are finally out after 4 years of concealment: “Lilibet’s biological father turns out to be….” See more below 👇👇
CELEBRITY3 weeks ago

Congratulations to Kate and William! The DNA test results of Lilibet are finally out after 4 years of concealment: “Lilibet’s biological father turns out to be….” See more below 👇👇

10 Minutes Ago: U.S. President Donald Trump Has Officially Resigned from Office After This Happened…
CELEBRITY3 weeks ago

15 Minutes Ago: U.S. President Donald Trump Has Officially Resigned from Office After This Happened…

OMG! Tennis star Coco Gauff stuns fans and the global sports world as she ties the knot with one of a pair of identical twins—sending the internet into a frenzy of excitement and celebration.
Gist3 weeks ago

OMG! Tennis star Coco Gauff stuns fans and the global sports world as she ties the knot with one of a pair of identical twins—sending the internet into a frenzy of excitement and celebration.

CELEBRITY3 weeks ago

Simone Biles celebrating her 28th birthday, blending real-life inspiration from her personality and values with….. Click Here For Full Details 👇⬇️

NFL3 weeks ago

Congratulations 🎉 to Coco at la Tribune Concorde with the trophy 😁 #RolandGarros…WATCH THE SPEECH THAT IS MAKING WAVES ON THE INTERNET…

Copyright © 2024 UKgets