In a stunning display of fearless tennis, British wildcard Sonay Kartal produced the performance of her career to eliminate world number seven Jessica Pegula from Wimbledon. The 22-year-old from Brighton triumphed 6-4, 6-4 in a match that will be remembered as one of the tournament's biggest upsets.
A Dream Come True on Court 18
Playing on the intimate Court 18, Kartal displayed remarkable composure against her decorated American opponent. The British number six, ranked 298th in the world, never appeared overawed by the occasion or her opponent's pedigree.
"It's a dream," an emotional Kartal told the BBC after her victory. "I'm just so happy to be here, to be playing on these courts, and to get a win like this."
Overcoming Adversity
Kartal's journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. The talented player has battled through three separate stress fractures in recent years, with her ranking plummeting as low as 839th in 2022.
Her remarkable comeback story adds another chapter with this victory, which follows her first-ever main-draw Grand Slam win against France's Clara Burel in the opening round.
Perfect Preparation Pays Off
The British star arrived at Wimbledon brimming with confidence after an impressive run at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne. There, she qualified for the main draw and defeated world number 31 Marie Bouzková before pushing former US Open champion Emma Raducanu to three sets.
That hardcourt experience proved invaluable against Pegula, with Kartal's powerful groundstrokes and intelligent court positioning consistently troubling the American fifth seed.
What Comes Next
Kartal's historic victory sets up a third-round encounter with Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who advanced when her opponent, Jaqueline Cristian, retired with injury.
The British underdog will now look to continue her fairytale run at SW19, with the nation firmly behind her as she attempts to reach the second week of Wimbledon.
