THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2024

Sonay Kartal

Press Conference

S. KARTAL/C. Burel

6-3, 5-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Sonay, through to the third round, how does that feel?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I'm still super happy. I haven't had much time to digest it still. Yeah, I'm super proud of today's performance, how I managed to keep a level head throughout that match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Coming through qualifying, now in the third round, up against Coco Gauff potentially on Centre Court, can you put into words how you're feeling?

SONAY KARTAL: Those are the moments you dream of as a little kid. If it is Centre Court, yeah, I'll be super excited, super proud to be on that court. It's a really special thing.

Yeah, obviously it's going to be a tough match. I think that if I can continue my form, I'll give myself a good chance.

Q. Obviously a run like this comes with a nice amount of prize money. How important is that for you in terms of reinvesting into your career?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I think it's going to help me for a little while. It will propel me into playing the bigger tournaments and be on the bigger stage, which is what I want to be doing at the end of the day.

Yeah, obviously it takes a little bit of stress away knowing that financially it will be okay.

Q. Have you promised yourself any treat?

SONAY KARTAL: Nothing yet. I've got a couple birthdays coming up with the family. I think they're a little bit happy that I won today (smiling).

Yeah, it will be put for them first before myself.

Q. You said at the end of the match the start of the year was pretty tough for you. Tell me a bit about the people supporting you.

SONAY KARTAL: I've had the same team my whole life since I started when I was six. I still train back in Brighton where I'm from, in the same club as well.

We have all kind of come on this journey. My coaches know me probably better than my family do, I spend so much time with them. Obviously having them there to kind of have this moment with me, as well, makes it even more special.

The fact of the year I've had, it's something that I'm super proud of. So much effort and time gone into that. It's not like it was a waste, you know?

Q. You mentioned about being kind of a childhood dream to play on Centre Court or Court 1. Can you remember the first time you would have watched a match on TV?

SONAY KARTAL: I've got a picture in my room, I have an older brother, with my mum and my dad, we were on Centre Court. We got lucky, we had really good tickets. I think I was seven maybe. Yeah, obviously grew up coming here as a kid.

Yeah, to be able to walk onto one of those courts will be a dream come true.

Q. Do you know what match it would have been, or matches?

SONAY KARTAL: If it was my dad, it was most likely Federer. I imagine it was a Federer match.

Q. What do you expect from Coco as an opponent?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, it's going to be a super tough match. There's a reason why she is No. 2 in the world.

At the end of the day I'm going to put all of that aside. Ultimately it's who you're playing the other side of the net. I think I'm going to go on there, got nothing to lose, and I'm just going to enjoy the moment and give it everything and see what I can do.

Q. How much more does this mean to you given you talked about your illness before, your fears that you might not make it?

SONAY KARTAL: I think my first-round win on Monday was a massive highlight for me. I didn't go to bed till pretty late in the morning.

So to be able to come out here today, do the same thing, and to be able to do it with the people that were backing me right from the start when I was ill, yeah, it's something that personally I'm super proud of. It was a scary time. I didn't let that bother me at all.

Q. I noticed you have a tattoo above your left knee. Are there any of these that have significance?

SONAY KARTAL: A few of them are pretty random, I'm not going to lie (smiling). Let's say maybe the most meaningful one for me, I've got one on my wrist that is a symbol of bravery.

I wasn't the best junior growing up, like ITFs and stuff. I wasn't that great. A bit of a late developer. I lost a lot of matches from playing too safe. I kind of had enough of losing and was like, I need to change something. If I have it on my wrist, I can see it. It's a little reminder at change of ends.

Q. I want to ask about your bucket hat. Is that a purchase for this year's event or is this something you've had for a while?

SONAY KARTAL: No, I was talking about bucket hats before coming here. I had one. I lost it somewhere in the dressing room. After Monday's match, my best friend is here, she pulled it out of her bag. Yeah, she got it for me.

Q. With an opponent like Coco Gauff, any insight into your preparation now, the analysis you go into?

SONAY KARTAL: I think that will be tomorrow's job with the coach. We'll go into it, we'll look, we'll look at ways that my game style can interrupt her game style a little bit.

I'm not typical, I would say. I like to play with a bit more variation and things like that. It will just be about finding ways that work for me, try and disrupt her. Yeah, we'll see what I can do.

Q. Could you talk a bit about how helpful your family have been over the years in your journey.

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I mean, they've dedicated their life for me to try and achieve a dream. I was pretty sporty as a kid, was doing football and cricket, as well. They're the most relaxed parents you'll probably ever meet. They never pushed me into doing anything, or even a sport. They just let me decide to do what I loved to do. As long as I gave it my best, they were going to back that 100%.

Yeah, they kind of lurk in the background a little bit and support me behind the scenes.

Q. What do you think has been the key to your rapid rise over the last years and what would you put that down to?

SONAY KARTAL: I think physically I've changed a lot, as well. Physically, it wasn't a strong point for me back then. I changed that during lockdown pretty significantly. It went from a weakness to a strength really fast. I'd say that was the main thing.

I think just mentality of believing that I have high levels to reach. Just fully kind of believing in that, investing in that, and trusting that I'm going to have some losses, but the wins will follow shortly.

Q. If you were to beat Gauff, would you be looking to get another tattoo or symbol?

SONAY KARTAL: I think so. I think there will probably be a bet in place with my coach. He also has tattoos, he's pretty covered. There's always a joke in the slams that we play if I reach certain rounds, et cetera, there will be something.

I think maybe despite the outcome, whatever it is, I think there could be one potentially.