THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2024

Sonay Kartal

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/S. Kartal

6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Sonay, played a good match out there. You must feel proud of your performance today.

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I'm proud of not just today but my whole week and last week, coming through quallies. Obviously Monday for me getting my first WTA win, as well as a first Grand Slam win, yes, super proud of that.

I think that first set today was probably some of my best tennis I've played.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. About the experience and what you think that will do for you going forward...

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I think today was a really good test for me. I've never come out with someone like Coco before. There's a reason why she is where she is, No. 2 in the world. She played some unbelievable tennis in that second set.

The way she plays, she makes you go for more. Today that's why second set wasn't the closest.

No, I think my first set today, that set today and the whole week, has given me confidence to prove that my level is up there.

Q. Is it sort of about consistency now, sort of your level moving forward?

SONAY KARTAL: Yes, I think this week was a bit unexpected for me. I'm not going to lie, I didn't expect to be third round. So, yeah, there's going to be a few schedule changes I think.

I think it's important for me now to play the bigger tournaments, play the bigger WTA tournaments. Mixed in with that level, I think consistently playing at that high level is what is going to develop me as a tennis player.

Q. What was it like for you out there playing in front of such a big crowd?

SONAY KARTAL: It was unbelievable. From walking out to walking off. They were behind me after every single point. I think it's something that is truly special. Yeah, it meant a lot to me today to have them backing me after every point.

I think that feeling of them in my ear when I was walking off, that moment is going to stick around a long time for me.

Q. After this week have your expectations of yourself changed? Have you got new targets to what you might have had three or four weeks ago?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I was supposed to be playing an ITF tournament next week. There's going to be a few changes to my tournaments. I think before this week I wasn't sure if I was going to make US Open quallies or not, whereas now after this week I'll be in there.

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to think of a new route of tournaments that I want to play. I think for me, the best way for me to develop is to put myself out there against the higher-level players and almost be uncomfortable. I think that's going to be what's going to develop me.

Q. Where was the ITF tournament?

SONAY KARTAL: I think it was Portugal. I won't be doing that. I've had a pretty full-on grass season. I played a lot of matches in the last couple weeks, as well. I think the body's going to have a few days off, then we'll come up with a new tournament schedule prior to US Open.

Q. You mentioned on Wednesday you're potentially going to get a tattoo to mark this run. Have you thought about what that could be?

SONAY KARTAL: I think I will get one. I don't know what I'm going to get. But I'm pretty easily persuaded. I think it will be obviously something significant to here. A few members of my team were throwing ideas of, like, strawberries and things like that. Maybe there will be one. There probably will be, I'm not going to lie to you.