Sonay Kartal’s star is rising after dismantling Diane Parry with five-star performance

As if the week has not been hot enough, Wimbledon may be braced for a Sonay fortnight for the foreseeable future.

Sonay Kartal’s star is rising as she dismantled France’s Diane Parry in two sets to take her place in round four with a five star performance.

So soon after Katie Boulter and Jack Draper wilted under the great expectations, Kartal showed the poise and skill that can elevate her to the peak of her sport. Maybe the recently departed British duo should employ her for psychology tips.

The shirt usually feels heavier for a home player as they go through the rounds. You would think that was even more so for Kartal as hers looks at least two sizes two big, particularly in scorching temperatures.

Evidently she does not feel it. So cool is her temperament, when her coaches analyse her heat mat they must just see a trail of ice.

The British number 3 may not grab the headlines of Emma Raducanu, Draper and Boulter, but they can’t beat her for bottle and fighting spirit. Where others failed to recover from an unsteady start, Kartal shrugged it off as mild inconveniences to assert her class and triumph 6-4, 6-2. It was emphatic.

Disappointingly and surprisingly, there were plenty of empty seats when Kartal began her bid for the second week, the home advantage which ought to have been compulsory not apparent until she really needed it when trailing 4-2 in the first set.

Within an hour there were standing ovations from a packed, thrilled crowd as Kartal rattled off ten of the next 12 games to take her to win.

At one stage the Briton appeared to be playing exhibition stuff, her variety too much for an increasingly agitated opponent.

It was a breeze by the end, Kartal surely making the show courts her home for future tournaments.

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03:24 PM BST

Delight for Kartal

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03:17 PM BST

Who will Kartal play next?

On Sunday, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stands in Kartal’s way for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Russian, making her 16th appearance at Wimbledon, knocked out Naomi Osaka earlier today, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

She has a career ranking high of 11 in November 2021 and her best result at Wimbledon is the quarter-finals in 2016.

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03:12 PM BST

Disciplined Kartal

My colleague Simon Briggs informs me that of the players left in the women’s draw, Kartal is second behind Emma Navarro for the fewest unforced errors so far in the tournament.

According to IBM, Navarro has made just EIGHT unforced errors while Kartal has made 44.

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03:02 PM BST

Kartal on going deep in the tournament

Everyone in this tournament is an unbelievable player but I respect everyone the same. I will try my best to approach the next match in the same way. I try to stay calm off court, but I am so grateful to get the win today.

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02:55 PM BST

WATCH: How Kartal reached the fourth round

The show must go on 🤩

Sonay Kartal is into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career after defeating Diane Parry 6-4, 6-2 on No.1 Court 👏#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/aaie8y1KQz

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2025

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02:51 PM BST

More Kartal reaction

I have been a lot more consistent and kept niggles and injures not too prominent. I was doing good things on the practice court and I always knew it would transfer onto the court. With every match, I am growing more confident as a player.

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02:44 PM BST

Kartal reacts

Everyone saw that I started off nervous. This is the most meaningful stage I have played on. I have lots of people here I wanted to wanted to do proud. I appreciate the crowd sticking behind me, it really helped.

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02:34 PM BST

A career first for Kartal

No 1 Court erupts and finally, we see some reaction from Kartal as she stands and raises her arms aloft. 

She is into the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time. She worked her way into the match and deservedly claimed victory in 82 minutes.

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02:30 PM BST

Kartal 6-4, 6-2 Parry*

Here we go then. Nervy start by Kartal as she drags a forehand wide. She gets back on track with a low backhand to the net rushing Parry.

Much needed forehand winner by Kartal, 30-15. Ace No 3 for Kartal brings up two match points.

Parry forehand return long. GAME SET MATCH KARTALLLLLLL!!!!

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02:27 PM BST

Kartal* 6-4, 5-2 Parry

Ideal start for Kartal as Parry flicks a forehand into the tramlines. Parry attacks the net, produces a deep backhand volley and Kartal nets her forehand up the line, 30-15.

Back-to-back backhand errors from Kartal and Parry holds to make the Briton serve for it. 

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02:24 PM BST

Kartal 6-4, 5-1 Parry*

Big serve followed by a forehand winner to start the game by Kartal. Parry then slices a backhand long, 30-0. Very little emotions shown by Kartal. She has been all business.

Until her shoulders slump a little bit when she hits a forehand well beyond the baseline, 30-30. She responds positively with a backhand down the line winner and finishes the game in style with a cross-court forehand winner.

Kartal is a game away from victory.

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02:20 PM BST

Kartal* 6-4, 4-1 Parry

Relief for Parry as she finally ends Kartal streak with a hold to 15. Her game has unravelled in the last 30 mins but Kartal has been excellent.

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02:17 PM BST

Kartal 6-4, 4-0 Parry*

Parry is getting nowhere on the Kartal serve and the Briton wraps up another love hold in less than 90 seconds.

Surely Parry can’t come back from this??

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02:15 PM BST

Kartal* 6-4, 3-0 Parry

27th unforced error from Parry puts Kartal 15-30 ahead. Deep forehand return by Kartal and Parry nets. Two more break points.

Parry takes control of the rally, Kartal is forced to put up a high lob, Parry hits a clean smash but Kartal anticipates it with a backhand up the line and Parry nets a half volley.

Kartal breaks AGAIN! Eight games in a row now.

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02:11 PM BST

Kartal 6-4, 2-0 Parry*

Kartal is redlining at the moment and that’s illustrated by how she closes out the game, whipping a high top-spin forehand into the corner for a winner.

An animated Parry talks to her support box. She is struggling out there.

There’s a bit of an exhibition going on here. Kartal served and volleyed at 40-0 on her own serve. It didn’t come off, but it showed her confidence and she held anyway. You would not believe she is playing for the second week at Wimbledon.

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02:07 PM BST

Second set: Kartal* 6-4, 1-0 Parry

Frustration building for Parry as he latest forehand error puts Kartal 15-30 ahead. Parry then slices a tame backhand into the net, two break points.

Great rally, both players dragging each other across the court and Parry finishes with a backhand winner. Kartal slices a backhand to Parry’s forehand and the Frenchwoman flicks her effort long.

Kartal breaks for the third time in a row.

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02:01 PM BST

‘Crowd’s support for the home player made a difference’

Thrilling comeback by Kartal with five straight games to take the set. After early nerves on the big points, Kartal started to let rip and dominate. Parry has started moaning to her coaching team, and the crowd’s support for the home player made a difference at the end of the set, too. 

Told you they should have got in earlier. It would have been 6-1.

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01:59 PM BST

Kartal* 6-4 Parry

Huge moment for Kartal now. Can she get the job done? She starts well with two unreturned first serves, 30-0.

She brings up three set points when Parry’s forehand goes long. And she takes it when Parry slices a backhand return long.

Stunning fight back from the Briton.

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01:55 PM BST

Kartal 5-4 Parry*

Among those in Kartal’s support box, is her Wimbledon doubles partner and good friend Jodie Burrage. And she joins the No 1 Court in applauding as Kartal moves to 15-30. 

Good response by Parry to get ahead in the game at 40-30 but a fourth double fault takes the game to deuce. Big chance for Kartal here.

The women go toe-to-toe in a cross-court forehand battle and Parry blinks first when she sends a forehand into the tramlines. Break point Kartal.

Sliced return by Kartal is short, Parry steps in and nets a forehand. Kartal breaks again. Four games in a row and now she will serve for the set.

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01:49 PM BST

Kartal* 4-4 Parry

It’s never a break unless you consolidate and Kartal does just that. Hold serve to 30 and now it’s Parry who is seeing her unforced error count rise, it’s now 15 for the set.

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01:47 PM BST

‘There’s only one Sonay Kartal’

Arena is filling, more champagne corks popping, Kartal’s ground shouts are hitting the lines and the roars are rapidly increasing in volume. Ladies and gentleman, No 1 Court is awake. 

If this goes to three sets, they’ll be singing ‘There’s only one Sonay Kartal’ by the end. 

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01:45 PM BST

Kartal 3-4 Parry*

That belief from Kartal is on full display here as she moves to 0-40 and three break points. Parry saves the first two. The crowd rises to encourage Kartal.

Tense, cat and mouse rally, Kartal hits a drop shot, Parry digs a shot to the baseline, Kartal has the option of a lob but tries to go down the line with a backhand and nets. Big chance missed.

Parry double faults, her second of the match. Fourth break point Kartal. Low slice from Kartal, Parry forehand into the net, Kartal breaks back.

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01:39 PM BST

Kartal* 2-4 Parry

Third ace from Kartal to close the game. The Briton is starting to grow in confidence.

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01:35 PM BST

Kartal 1-4 Parry*

Parry’s strong start continues as she holds to 30 with a her eighth visit to the net ending in a volley winner. Kartal has been overpowered so far. She hasn’t been able to apply pressure to Parry from the back of the court. 

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01:29 PM BST

Kartal* 1-3 Parry

Parry continues to excel at the net and she executes a brilliant stretch volley winner off a Kartal backhand pass. She is 7/8 at the net so far.

After 21 minutes, Kartal finally gets on the board with a service hold to 30. Cheers all around No 1 Court. That should help her settle.

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01:24 PM BST

Kartal 0-3 Parry*

Kartal is yet to settle into the match. She’s up to five unforced errors for the match already while an eighth winner for Parry seals the game and consolidates the break.

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01:22 PM BST

‘Plenty of empty seats’

Plenty of empty seats for the start of this match, which is surprising and disappointing. Come on Wimbledon’s show court punters. Never mind lunch or saving yourself for the Alcaraz match. 

A British girl is fighting for a place in the second week here.

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01:20 PM BST

Kartal* 0-2 Parry

First ace of the match for Kartal brings her to 30-30. Another one puts her ahead and but a double fault takes the game to deuce.

Parry has been very willing to come to the net and her latest foray ends in a deft backhand volley winner, break point. Deep forehand by Parry forces Kartal on the back foot and she hits a short forehand. Parry races forehand and whips a forehand into the corner.

Parry breaks.

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01:14 PM BST

First set: Sonay Kartal 0-1 Diane Parry* (*denotes server)

Aggressive tennis from Kartal gets Parry on the defensive and the Briton finishes with an overhead smash winner, 15-30. Parry fights back to 40-30 with a lovely forehand down the line that’s too hot for Kartal.

Succession of cross-court forehands by Kartal gets Parry off balance and she finishes the rally with a forehand winner, deuce.

Parry slices a backhand into the net, break point Kartal. Saved by Parry with a volley winner and the Frenchwoman holds on after six minutes.

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01:06 PM BST

Here we go!

It’s another warm day in SW19. No 1 Court is slowly filling up while the players finish their warm-ups.

Kartal is the last British woman standing. Can she keep up her dream run? Let’s find out!

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12:56 PM BST

Who is Diane Parry?

• A former world No 1 junior. She has reached the semi-finals of the Wimbledon girls’ event in 2019
• She has reached the third round at three of the four grand slams but never been beyond
• The Frenchwoman beat Diana Shnaider in the second round, her second career win over a top 20 opponent

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12:51 PM BST

Kartal is the favourite to win

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12:44 PM BST

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12:31 PM BST

Kartal bids for fourth round

Hello and welcome to coverage from day five at Wimbledon as Sonay Kartal bids to reach the fourth round.

The 23-year-old has starred on Court No 3 so far this tournament but today she will be on No 1 Court when she faces qualifier Diane Parry.

Kartal has a large collection of tattoos and is planning to add another after the end of the tournament, with the British No 3 calling on fans to help her choose.

“I’m open to suggestions,” she said. “If people throw me some good ideas, I will definitely consider them – 90 per cent I would end up going with one of those ideas.”

Kartal is taking pride at having backed up last year’s run, and proving to herself that her heavy topspin game can give her major opportunities on grass as well as the other surfaces.

“I think having a home slam, I think that’s one arena I really want to perform well in front of the people that mean the most to me, friends and family and everyone,” she said.

“Also, it’s a surface that doesn’t really come naturally to me. I have to really think and adapt my game style, which I think is also going to help me develop beyond this tournament as well.

“I have to be really aggressive. That’s something I need to do to get better at in my game outside of Wimbledon. I need to be able to flicker between spinning the ball heavy on the forehand and also flatten it out. For me grass it going to do that. I think if I can be aggressive on grass, I can prove to myself that I can do it and I can do it against the best players.”