Sonay Kartal: 2025 season in review
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British star Sonay Kartal has just wrapped up another breakthrough year on the WTA Tour that has seen her officially announce her arrival onto the world's big stage.
After closing out 2024 with her first WTA tour-level title in Monastir, Kartal set out to build on the foundations heading into the fresh season.
It’s been another standout year for the 24-year-old who helped the Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team book their spot to this year’s semi-finals, reached her maiden WTA 1000 quarter-final and made the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
With that being said, we’re here to look back on all the highlights from Kartal’s 2025 season, including her biggest win, defining moment and what’s to come for the Brit next season.
Sonay Kartal’s 2025 season by numbers:
- Titles won: 0
- Year-end ranking: 71
- Best ranking: 44 (career high)
- Tournaments played: 19
- Win-loss record: 24-20
- Standout stat: 70% average first serve percentage
- Billie Jean King Cup ties played: 4
- Billie Jean King Cup win record: 3-1
- Notable milestones: Made the fourth round at Indian Wells, secured her first win over a WTA top 10 player, reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
Sonay Kartal’s biggest win of the 2025 season:
This year’s Asian swing brought Kartal her career-best win as she defeated then world No.5 Mirra Andreeva to reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final at the Beijing Open.
Heading into the fourth round match-up, the Brit had recorded straight set victories over Alycia Parks, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint but faced her toughest challenge yet in the form of reigning Dubai Open and Indian Wells champion Andreeva.
After the teenager fought back in the second set, Kartal went on to oust the fourth seed in the decider to win 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 and record her first win over a WTA top 10 player.
Sonay Kartal’s defining moment in 2025:
The grass court season saw Kartal well and truly announce her arrival on the big stage.
Arriving at The Championships at Wimbledon, Kartal made a statement start to her campaign when she knocked out 18th seed Jelena Ostapenko in the opening round. From there, she secured straight set wins over Viktoria Tomova and Diane Parry to book her spot in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her young career.
In doing so, she became the fourth unseeded British woman to make the round of 16 at SW19 this century – joining Laura Robson, Heather Watson and Emma Raducanu.
The run also helped catapult Kartal to a career-high ranking of No.44 in the WTA rankings and acted as a springboard for a sensational few months that followed.
Sonay Kartal’s 2025 Grand Slam results:
This year saw Kartal make her main draw appearance at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open, while also clocking her best Grand Slam run at Wimbledon.
- Australian Open: First round (lost vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-6(5)) (tournament best)
- Roland Garros: Second round (lost vs Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 6-4) (tournament best)
- Wimbledon: Fourth round (lost vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6(3), 6-4) (tournament best)
- US Open: First round (lost vs Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 1-6, 6-1) (tournament best)
Sonay Kartal’s off court moment of 2025:
As Kartal stepped onto Wimbledon’s Centre Court to contest her fourth round match at Wimbledon, the British star was greeted by a clap of thunder. It was a fitting indication of the tense match that was about to unfold and also became the inspiration behind her next tattoo.
Along with her Grand Slam breakthrough, Kartal’s season also saw her make a long-awaited Billie Jean King Cup debut. Having been part of the Lexus GB squad in previous years, Kartal was handed her first call-up by captain Anne Keothavong in April’s qualifiers and she seized the moment - defeating Germany’s Jule Niemeier and the Netherlands’ Eva Vedder to help her nation qualify for the Finals.
To commemorate these achievements, Kartal decided to add two new works of art to her expanding tattoo collection. We joined the Brighton native at her local parlour to talk all things Wimbledon, her love of body art, and the designs celebrating both her summer success and Billie Jean King Cup debut.
Sonay Kartal’s quote of the year:
The drive comes from myself. I'm super disciplined. I'm super determined. When I set my mind to something, I want to achieve it. I want to prove to myself that I can do it.
Sonay Kartal’s photo of the year:
In the summer of 2024, Kartal had her first experience of stepping out onto one of the Wimbledon show courts as she took on now two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff.
While her first experience might have seen her come out on the losing side of the match, it was a completely different story this year for the British No.2. Taking on France’s Diane Parry, in front of her home crowd on No.1 Court, Kartal managed to claim her first victory on one of the biggest courts in tennis to book her spot in the fourth round at SW19.
Here’s the moment Kartal sealed her first victory on No.1 Court.
What’s next for Sonay Kartal in 2026?
Having posted some of the biggest wins of her career this year, it’s safe to say the sky is the limit for Kartal heading into 2026.
The British No.2 will be high on confidence heading into the new season where she’ll look to target deeper runs in the Grand Slams and WTA 1000 events, as well as striving towards reaching her career-high ranking once again.
