Sonay Kartal has given British tennis fans plenty to cheer about on day one of Wimbledon 2025, pulling off a stunning upset against 20th seed and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. In a thrilling three-set battle on Court Three, the 23-year-old British No.3 triumphed 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in just under two hours, marking her second successive year advancing to the second round at the All England Club.
Wimbledon 2025, running from June 30 to July 13 at the iconic All England Club, boasts the largest British singles contingent in decades, with 23 players competing—a figure not seen since 1984. Kartal, one of 10 British women in the draw, was the first among them to secure a win, setting a positive tone for the home crowd on a sweltering day at SW19.
Coming into the match, Kartal was no stranger to Ostapenko’s power. The Latvian had convincingly defeated her just a week earlier at Eastbourne. However, Kartal demonstrated remarkable resilience and tactical growth, qualities she has honed since her breakout performance at Wimbledon last year when she reached the third round as a wildcard ranked 281. Now ranked 51st in the world—a jump of 230 places—Kartal’s maturation on the court was evident.
"That was by far one of the toughest matches I've played," Kartal reflected post-match. "I struggle against the big hitters, so it's great to be able to get that win after she beat me easily last week. This year I'm playing better, I'm improving each week – I want to see how far I can go this week." Her statement captures the determination that fuelled her comeback in the opening set.
The match began unfavorably for Kartal, who fell behind 3-0 early and later faced a daunting 5-2 deficit in the first set. Ostapenko even held three set points at 5-4, threatening to close out the opener. But Kartal, showing nerves of steel, saved those set points and went on an impressive five-game winning streak to snatch the set 7-5. A critical forehand winner past a stationary Ostapenko sealed the opener, shifting momentum in Kartal’s favor.
Ostapenko, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2018 and a former world No. 5, responded robustly in the second set. She unleashed 15 winners and capitalized on Kartal’s momentary dip to take the set 6-2, leveling the match and reminding everyone of her pedigree. Yet, the Latvian’s physical condition appeared compromised; an ankle twist suffered just before Wimbledon seemed to hamper her movement and consistency.
The decisive third set saw Kartal seize control early, breaking Ostapenko’s serve and racing to a 5-0 lead. Ostapenko’s frustration was palpable, with visible signs of exasperation directed at both her coaches and the crowd, who were vocally supporting the British player. Despite a brief resistance from Ostapenko, who won two games, Kartal maintained her composure to serve out the match on her second attempt, sealing a 6-2 final set.
Fans erupted in celebration as Kartal punched her ticket into round two, where she will face Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova. Tomova advanced after former Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur was forced to retire due to injury, setting up an intriguing clash for Kartal to potentially match or surpass her 2024 Wimbledon run.
Kartal’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Last year, she was a relative unknown ranked 298th, yet she stunned audiences by reaching the third round at Wimbledon, eventually falling to Coco Gauff. Since then, she has consciously sought out tougher matches to accelerate her development. "After the year I had last year, I’ve made a conscious effort to play the bigger matches and put myself under pressure on the court," she explained. "I knew that maybe I wouldn’t get the results straight away but that eventually it would pay off and that’s what happened today."
Her victory over Ostapenko is her third top-20 win of the year and arguably her most significant yet, given the stakes and context. It follows a notable triumph over Daria Kasatkina at the Queen's Club earlier this month. Kartal’s ability to mix up her game with drop shots and exploit Ostapenko’s limited movement was key, especially in the final set where she forced 12 unforced errors from her opponent.
Meanwhile, other British hopefuls faced mixed fortunes on day one. Teenager Hannah Klugman, who made headlines last month by becoming the first Briton in nearly half a century to reach the French Open girls’ final, bowed out in straight sets to Canada’s 29th seed Leylah Fernandez. British wild card Oliver Crawford also fell in his Wimbledon main-draw debut, losing in four sets to Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.
As Wimbledon 2025 unfolds, Kartal’s breakthrough win provides a beacon of hope for British tennis. With a strong contingent competing and a home crowd behind them, the tournament promises excitement and potential surprises. Kartal’s journey from a wildcard ranked outside the top 250 to a formidable competitor on grass courts is a testament to her hard work and growing confidence.
Her next match against Viktoriya Tomova will be closely watched. If Kartal can maintain her current form and mental toughness, she could well extend her impressive run and continue climbing the rankings. For now, British fans can revel in the fact that one of their own has made an emphatic statement on the sport’s biggest stage.
