Sonay Kartal put together the best performance of her burgeoning career to outlast the world No 5 Mirra Andreeva across three gruelling sets, winning 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 after two hours and 25 minutes to reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final at the China Open.
The victory in Beijing marks Kartal’s first defeat of a top 10 opponent, a statement result as she rises up the rankings. Standing at just 5ft 4in (163cm) in a sport dominated by strong, imposing athletes, one of the most common questions surrounding Kartal’s career has been whether her game is too underpowered to trouble the elite. The Briton’s efforts on Wednesday provided a convincing answer to those questions.
