HSBC Championships 2025: Sonay Kartal beats Daria Kasatkina to seal biggest win of her career
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Sonay Kartal has become the first British player to book her spot in the second round at the HSBC Championships after edging out Daria Kasatkina in three sets at The Queen’s Club.
Kartal dismissed world No.16 Kasatkina 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours five minutes – marking the biggest win of her career by ranking and second over a top 20 player.
Speaking after her first ever match at The Queen’s Club, Kartal reflected on her victory against Kasatkina, saying, “It was super special obviously, I wanted to put on a big show and come away with the win.
“I knew it was going to be tough, I knew her previous grass results so I’m super proud of that performance and played some of, if not my best tennis out there and the crowd really got behind me when I needed it the most.”
At the beginning of the 2024 grass court season, Kartal was ranked No.271 in the world but fast forward 12 months and the Brighton-born star has lifted a maiden WTA Tour-level title, reached the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and this week hit a new milestone by breaking into the world’s top 50 for the first time.
Despite it being a whirlwind year for Kartal, the 23-year-old is soaking up every minute of the journey, “The last year has been crazy, it’s not what I thought would happen especially not as fast. The last few months I’ve played bigger tournaments, I’m handling the bigger occasions better.
I wouldn’t say it gets any easier but I’m getting better at handling that (the big moments) and navigating that – I’m going at my own pace in this crazy sport.”
Kartal saw off a break point in the opening game of the match but seized her first opportunity on the world No.16’s serve
The reigning Eastbourne champion struggled to find rhythm in the early stages of the match and won just nine out of 21 points on her serve across the opening set as Kartal sprinted ahead to a double break lead.
Despite it being her first time competing on this stage, at this tournament, Kartal looked right at home on the Andy Murray Arena. The British No.3 ripped a running forehand down the line to secure a 5-0 lead before going on to take the set in just 30 minutes.
Kasatkina made a brighter start to the second set and began to display the grass court tennis that has carried her to three finals and one title on the surface.
She managed to cut down the unforced errors, particularly on serve, and apply some pressure to the Brit at 4-3 up in the second where she dug up three break points before finding the crucial breakthrough as Kartal returned a backhand into the net.
In the decisive moments of the match, it was the British star who would have the final say. Kartal broke Kasatkina one final time in the fifth game of the decider before going on to close out the win with a 16th winner of the match.
Elsewhere in West London, Jodie Burrage lost out on the chance to join Kartal in the second round after being narrowly beaten by world No.15 Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
However, it was a dream debut at The Queen's Club for British doubles duo Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu who breezed to victory in front of a packed home crowd.
More Brits are set to be in action on Tuesday 10 June, with Boulter, Raducanu and qualifier Heather Watson all contesting their first round matches at the HSBC Championships.
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