Sonny Kartal has beaten Mirra Andreeva in a thrilling match that is predicted to send shockwaves across the WTA Tour.
Kartal rarely looked fazed by the nature of the occasion, handling every single pressurised moment with an ice-cool demeanour, eventually closing out the fourth-round contest 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
The 23-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season on the WTA Tour, and this victory over the world number five has cemented her place among Britain’s finest young prospects, alongside Emma Raducanu and Francesca Jones.
Victory over Andreeva marked Kartal’s first triumph against a top-10 player, and secured her maiden quarter-final appearance in a WTA 1000 event.
Annabel Croft says Kartal’s victory will send ‘shockwaves’ around the WTA Tour
After the match, former Wimbledon junior champion Annabel Croft praised Kartal’s ‘resilience.’
“So thoroughly deserved this victory,” Croft said while commentating for Sky Sports.
“Total resilience all the way through. Just smart tactics, solid patient play. That forehand is venomous.
“It’s very understated the way she produces it. It’s very underrated. It has a lot of heaviness about it, the spin and the way she controls the ball into the corners.
“She used the slice into the backhand side and served really accurately. Wow. That is a statement victory that is going to cause a few shockwaves around the tour.”
The British player will face Linda Noskova in the China Open quarter-finals, after the Czech star defeated Anastasia Potapova.
As for Andreeva, she will lose 95 WTA points: she reached the quarter-final stage at last year’s tournament.
Sonay Kartal reacts to her victory
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Kartal said: “Far from easy. She’s a top 10 player for a very good reason.
“She made me play my best tennis today, so credit to her for making me bring that level. I’m super happy that I managed to stick it out.
Kartal was then asked how she maintained her composure during a close final set.
She said: “I think the way I carry myself on court is one of my biggest assets. You can look down the other end at me and you wouldn’t really know if I’m winning or losing.
“I just tried to put that second set behind me. She played some great tennis so I just tried to level it out in the third set and keep the scoreboard pressure as tight as I could.”
Kartal later commented on her experience in China so far, adding: “It’s my first time in China. I’ve got incredible memories already so far and the atmosphere today was unbelievable. It was a privilege to be able to play on this court, in front of this crowd. It was amazing.”
