Brighton and Hove tennis player Sonay Kartal claimed the biggest win of her career over Mirra Andreeva to reach the China Open quarter-finals in Beijing.
The 23-year-old, currently ranked 81 in women’s singles, battled to a 7-5 2-6 7-5 win against Andreeva, the world number five, to continue a stunning week.
It is the first time that Kartal has beaten a top 10 player and the first time she has reached the last eight at a WTA 1000 event.
Her success should see her overtake Katie Boulter as the British number two.
Kartal’s composure proved crucial in a contest full of entertaining rallies that was on a knife edge until the end.
The pressure got to 18-year-old Andreeva in the final game of the opening set and, although she hit back strongly in the second, Kartal kept her nose in front in the decider with some exceptional play.
Andreeva had been holding her own serve fairly comfortably but at 5-6 the occasion told again – and the Russian’s disappointment was evident after she dumped a forehand wide to hand Kartal victory on her second match point.
Next up, Kartal is due to play the 26th seed Linda Noskova, 20, from Czechia, on Friday (3 October).
Kartal, who trains at the Pavilion and Avenue (Pav and Ave) Tennis Club, in Hove, said in her court-side interview: “She’s a top 10 player for a very good reason.
“She made me play my best tennis today. I’m super happy with the level I managed to dig it out in the end.
“I think the way I carry myself on the court is one of my biggest assets. You could 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 high as I could.”
