Billie Jean King Cup 2026: Sonay Kartal set for injury return as fifth member of the Lexus GB team
• 2 minute read
Sonay Kartal is set to join the Lexus Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team for the Finals in Shenzhen in what will be her first tournament in six months.
The former world No.44 recently announced her return from a stress fracture injury to her lower back and has been selected by Captain Anne Keothavong to compete at the Finals for a second year in a row.
Kartal will join British No.1 Katie Boulter, Qualifiers hero Harriet Dart, rising star Mika Stojsavljevic and former top 100 player Jodie Burrage.
Back in April, the team recorded a 3-1 upset win over Australia to book their place at the Finals in Shenzhen this month.
The British side are now set to face Czechia in the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday 23 September.
Great Britain have reached the semi-finals in three of the last four Billie Jean King Cup campaigns and are currently No.2 in the overall rankings.
They will take on a strong Czechia side that includes both Wimbledon singles finalists – Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova – as well as doubles world No.1 Katerina Siniakova.
Speaking on her return to the Billie Jean King Cup squad, Kartal said: “For me, there was no better way to do it (returning from injury at the Billie Jean King Cup). It’s one of my favourite weeks of the year. I love the team atmosphere, the team events, spending time with the girls. It’s such a unique event. It’s going to be a great week.
“I’m feeling good. Mentally, physically, I’m in a very good place. I’m ready to get going now – it’s been a while.”
24-year-old Kartal made an impressive start to her Billie Jean King Cup career last year – winning both her singles matches in the Qualifiers against Germany and Netherlands, and picking up a victory against Japan in the Finals.
Following on from her career-best fourth round run at Wimbledon and a first WTA 1000 quarter-final in Beijing last year, Kartal had started the 2026 season on strong footing.
After reaching quarter-finals in Auckland and Abu Dhabi, Kartal defeated world No.20 Emma Navarro and No.15 Madison Keys to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells.
Kartal was forced to retire from her round of 16 match against Elena Rybakina with a back injury that has kept her out of competitive action since March.
If called upon to play, Kartal will bring the confidence and experience from her previous outings for the GB team as she looks to get up to match speed at the World Cup of tennis.
