Sonay was amongst an elite clutch of gamers – together with Raducanu – who met the Princess of Wales and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, on finals day at Wimbledon this summer season. After the grand slam, Kartal posted an pleasing ‘dump’ on Instagram chronicling the highlights of the match, and an omnipresent fixture was a white bucket hat with a single strawberry (Raducanu commented: ‘I need that bucket’). In a press convention, Kartal revealed that she and her coach, Ben Reeves ((*1*)), goad one another to get tattoos in the event that they attain sure rounds. Post Wimbledon, she steered a tattooed strawberry was on the playing cards.
Kartal, who was born in London, is of Turkish descent by way of her father; she started enjoying tennis at the age of six, impressed by her brother. These days, house is Brighton and she trains at Pavilion & Avenue Tennis Club. She’s a canine-lover, beforehand posting a tribute to her canine Chester who died in 2024.
Raducanu and Kartal have a friendship that goes method again. When Raducanu gained the US Open, a video emerged of her rallying as a nine-year-old. At the different finish of the internet was Kartal. ‘Insane rally!’ they hollered to each other. Raducanu’s triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2021 gave Kartal a kick of motivation. Now, injury-free, she’s actually hitting her stride. Vamos!
