Kartal is the second name to be added to the Lexus Eastbourne Open line-up after we recently announced that four-time men’s singles champion and former US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz would be returning to Devonshire Park. 

The 24-year-old Brighton-native is playing some of the best tennis of her career – reaching her highest ranking of world No.44 last summer. 

The British star is excited to return for the grass court season and the tournament she grew up visiting as a child. 

"Eastbourne has always been a special tournament for me, I grew up just a few miles down the road and used to come with my school to watch the world’s best in action,” Kartal said. “Those early memories were super inspiring and are probably part of the reason I’m where I am today. 

​“I made some great progress last year, but I always want to keep pushing for more, so I’m excited to return this summer to a tournament that has always been close to my heart.  

“I love playing on grass and I love playing in front of a home crowd, Eastbourne brings together the best of those worlds and I can't wait to be back.” 

Kartal made a huge impression last year with her career-best Grand Slam run at Wimbledon – making the fourth round with wins over former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, Viktoriya Tomova and Diane Parry. 

A fan-favourite whenever she plays on home soil, Kartal has a solid history on grass beyond her run in 2025. She reached the third round of Wimbledon from qualifying the season before and is a former semi-finalist at the Lexus Ilkley Open. 

Last year, Kartal picked up strong results at some of the biggest tour events. The Briton made the fourth round at Indian Wells in March and then her first WTA 1000 quarter-final at the China Open in October. So far in 2026, she’s reached the quarter-finals in Auckland and at the the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi. 

The Lexus Eastbourne Open – a combined WTA 250, ATP 250 and WTT 500 wheelchair tournament – is one of five Lexus Open events taking place this summer. 

The grass court season opens at the Lexus Birmingham Open. Expect the best rising talents from across the world, home crowd favourites and the future stars of British tennis at the Edgbaston Priory Club, as they battle it out at the first event of the LTA grass court season.  

The Lexus Nottingham Open delivers all the drama and excitement of world class tennis right in the heart of the city. With former champions such as Ashleigh Barty, Katie Boulter and Sir Andy Murray, and a variety of fun off-court activities to enjoy throughout the week – this is one you won’t want to miss. 

Watch new stars set to emerge and new stories unfold at Yorkshire’s festival of tennis – the Lexus Ilkley Open. 

Round off the grass court season and celebrate 50 years of wheelchair tennis with the world's best players at the Lexus British Open Roehampton. 

Tickets are available now for all events – but hurry, they will sell fast so buy yours now and get set for the summer of tennis. 

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2026 grass court season calendar