Sonay Kartal seems to reserve her best tennis for the biggest stages.
The British No. 2 delivered another gritty performance at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, rallying from a set down to defeat former Australian Open champion Madison Keys 2–6, 6–2, 6–3. The comeback victory pushes Kartal into the Round of 16, keeping alive her impressive run in the California desert.
What made the win even more remarkable was the physical challenge behind it. Kartal admitted she was battling back pain during the match, yet still managed to outlast one of the most powerful hitters on the WTA Tour.
“I’m a fighter,” Kartal said afterward — and her performance proved it.
Kartal Turns the Match Around After Tough Start
The match began exactly how many expected.
Keys, a proven big-stage performer, came out aggressively and quickly imposed her powerful baseline game. After several early breaks of serve, the American surged ahead and sealed the first set 6–2, capitalizing on Kartal’s slow start.
But the momentum soon flipped.
Kartal recalibrated her game in the second set, raising her intensity and reducing unforced errors. The British player took control of the rallies, forcing Keys into defensive positions and leveling the match 6–2 in less than 30 minutes.
By the decider, Kartal had firmly seized the initiative.
Although she missed an early opportunity to break Keys, the pressure continued to build. Late in the set, Kartal finally struck, securing the decisive break before calmly serving out the match to love, completing one of the standout upsets of the round.
Madison Keys vs Sonay Kartal – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Madison Keys | Sonay Kartal |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.82 | 1.22 |
| Serve Rating | 238 | 266 |
| Aces | 5 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 67% (61/91) | 71% (62/87) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 57% (35/61) | 66% (41/62) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% (15/30) | 56% (14/25) |
| Break Points Saved | 60% (6/10) | 50% (3/6) |
| Service Games | 67% (8/12) | 77% (10/13) |
| Ace % | 5.5% | 2.3% |
| Double Fault % | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| Return Rating | 151 | 166 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 34% (21/62) | 43% (26/61) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 44% (11/25) | 50% (15/30) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (3/6) | 40% (4/10) |
| Return Games | 23% (3/13) | 33% (4/12) |
| Pressure Points | 56% (9/16) | 44% (7/16) |
| Service Points | 55% (50/91) | 63% (55/87) |
| Return Points | 37% (32/87) | 45% (41/91) |
| Total Points | 46% (82/178) | 54% (96/178) |
| Match Duration | 1h58m | |
The victory marks Kartal’s second appearance in the Round of 16 at Indian Wells, an impressive milestone for the rising British star.
Playing Through Pain
The result was even more impressive considering Kartal was far from fully fit.
Speaking to BBC Sport, she revealed that back problems had troubled her during the match.
“At times I had some back issues during the match,” she explained. “Days like this show that I’m a fighter.”
The injury had already affected her earlier in the tournament. During her previous match against Emma Navarro, Kartal required a medical timeout but still managed to battle through and secure the victory.
That win over Navarro — the tournament’s No. 20 seed — followed her opening-round victory against Lanlana Tararudee, meaning Kartal has already defeated two highly respected opponents in Indian Wells.
Her growing confidence reflects that momentum.
“On these courts I feel like I can beat anyone on any given day,” she said.
A Career Built on Big Moments
Kartal’s performances in Indian Wells continue a career trajectory that has steadily gained attention.
The 2024 season marked her breakthrough year, when she climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 44 in the world. That rise was powered by consistent results and her first WTA title at the Jasmin Open in Tunisia.
She also impressed on home soil at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round, before producing another standout run at the China Open, where she advanced to the quarterfinals.
Along the way, she secured her first Top-10 victory by defeating Mirra Andreeva, ultimately falling to eventual finalist Linda Noskova.
This season has been more uneven, but Kartal has still shown flashes of that breakthrough form. She reached quarterfinals at the ASB Classic and Abu Dhabi Open, proving she can challenge high-level opponents when playing her best tennis.
Next Test: Elena Rybakina
Kartal’s reward for the comeback victory is a daunting challenge.
Next up is Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, one of the most dangerous players on hard courts and a former Indian Wells champion.
But Kartal’s immediate focus is less on tactics and more on recovery.
“My back has been quite a big hindrance,” she admitted. “I didn’t really practice yesterday and just tried to recover as much as possible.”
The priority now is to repeat that process.
“Now it’s about recovering again and doing exactly the same so I can get back on court in the next few days.”
If the recovery goes well, Kartal will have the chance to chase another Top-10 victory and continue one of the most compelling runs of the tournament.