Seventh heaven: Kartal continues fine season with W100 Shrewsbury win
Sonay Kartal's breakthough season stepped up another notch this weekend after the Brit claimed the W100 Shrewsbury title on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
Kartal climbed 10 spots to a career-high No. 92 in the WTA rankings after beating four of her compatriots en route to her seventh title of the season.
Having not dropped a set all week, Kartal led an all-British singles final against Heather Watson 7-5, 4-1, before Watson, who also enjoyed an impressive week in Shropshire, was forced to retire owing to injury.
There was also British success in the doubles with Amelia Rajecki and Mimi Xu clinching the biggest doubles title of their respective careers - and their fourth each at ITF level overall.
Kartal, 22, said she was “super happy with the win" - her first above W35 level on the ITF World Tennis Tour and the second biggest triumph of her career to date.
“Yesterday, I won from a retirement, the same today,” reflected Kartal. "It’s obviously never nice, especially in the final when it’s against your friend, but I think this week I’ve played great tennis, and I think I’ve progressed my game each match as I’ve gone on.”
Kartal established an early 4-1 lead in the opening set, which was watched by a capacity crowd of 650 in the DMOS People Arena.
Watson responded positively to move 5-4 ahead, but Kartal then saw the set out to take it 7-5.
Watson called for the physio early in the second set, and although she tried to play on, the current world No. 157 was eventually forced to retire.
Kartal was also a winner at The Shrewsbury Club earlier in her career when was won the UK Pro League title in 2021.
"I’m leaving here super positive and I’ve just gained even more confidence this week,” she said.
Kartal, who won her first WTA title in Tunisia last month and reached the third round at Wimbledon earlier this year, has enjoyed her week in Shrewsbury.
“It was a tournament that I was targeting and was always going to come back. I was sad that I had to miss it last year with injury," she said.
“I think that it’s a place for me and a club where I feel relaxed, and I think when you feel relaxed and comfortable on the court, I think that really helps with your tennis.
“The way the guys run the tournament and the crowds and everything, it’s such a high level tournament they put on.”
Watson, who said she was upset that she had to retire, added: "It’s the top of my calf muscle behind my knee. I’ve actually been carrying it the whole week, and also a quad, but today in the second game of the second set, I felt it go.
“I tried to carry on. I wasn’t sure if I hurt it worse, but then as each point went by after that I realised that I had done something to it and it was hindering me and I couldn’t move, and I felt it every step I took.
“It was such a shame because it’s the final and I was really upset when I had to retire because I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve retired in my career, so that bit’s sad.
“But such a fantastic week and I’m proud that I got to the final, and Sonay played a great match regardless up until that point where I had to retire, so either way it would have been a tough ask.”
The W100 Shrewsbury event, the biggest indoor women’s tournament to be played in the UK this year, was the first time that Watson has competed at The Shrewsbury Club since also reaching the final of the 2011 event.
“I can’t believe how much this event has developed and how lovely it was to play out here on this court,” she said.
Watson, 32, said she can “take loads of positives from this week” and could reflect on an enjoyable week.
"I appreciated everybody who came out and supported today - the atmosphere was amazing.”
An all-British doubles final followed as Rajecki and Xu produced a fine performance to beat Hannah Klugman and Ranah Stoiber 6-4, 6-1.
Both British doubles pairs have enjoyed excellent weeks in Shropshire.
Dave Courteen, the tournament promoter for W100 Shrewsbury event, was delighted with the success of the week.
"It’s been an excellent week of tennis,” he said. “This year was the strongest field we have ever had in terms of world rankings and it’s certainly not disappointed in terms of the quality of tennis, which has been amazing.
“To have a crowd of 650 for finals day is the biggest we’ve had and it just shows there is demand for people to watch world-class tennis here in Shrewsbury. It’s brilliant to bring an event of this stature to the town."
“It's the first time we’ve had six Brits in the finals here, singles and doubles, so that's just incredible and is testament to just how strong British tennis is.
“We thank all the sponsors and volunteers as without their support this event wouldn’t happen, while we are also grateful to the team at The Shrewsbury Club for all they have contributed.”
Richard Joyner, the tournament director for the LTA, added: “This event each year gets bigger and better. There was a full house for finals day, a fully engaged crowd, watching some great tennis.
“It means so much to the players to play in an atmosphere like this. It makes it a very special experience and that’s something that Shrewsbury and the local area, everyone involved, should be proud of.
“Part of our rationale as the national governing body, as the LTA, is to put these events on to give ranking point and prize money opportunities for British players to compete and earn points in their own country.
“With both of this week’s singles finalists and all four doubles finalists from Great Britain, it’s certainly achieving that.”