Sonay Kartal in the 2019 Wimbledon Girls' competition
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Sonay Kartal of Great Britain plays a backhand in her Girls' Singles first round match against Annerly Poulos of Australia during Day six of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Tennis | ITF Birmingham | Sonay Kartal & Eliz Maloney win titles

By Glenys Furness

  • Sonay Kartal claimed the singles title
  • Eliz Maloney took the doubles
  • Kartal defeated top seed en route
BIRMINGHAM, UK – Sonay Kartal received a wild card entry to the ITF W25 event. The Brit defeated the top seed in the first round. Eliz Maloney claimed the doubles title at the same event.

 

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Sonay Kartal received a wild card into the main draw for the ITF event. The young Brit had previously won three weeks in a row at the UK Pro League last summer. Kartal drew the top seed Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in the first round. The Dutch player stayed with the Brit in the first set, and it looked like a tiebreak would ensue in the first set. However, Kartal managed to get the break of serve and take the lead. The Brit then found her stride, Kartal dominated the second set to take the win 7-5, 6-2.

In the second round Kartal was against fellow Brit Samantha Murray Sharan. The 20 year old stormed into the lead in the first set, breaking Murray Sharan easily to take the set. The second set was all one way traffic, as Kartal dominated and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.

The quarter-final saw the Brit against German Eva Lys. Kartal and Lys were evenly matched at the start, however the young Brit managed to secure the break needed in the first set to take the lead. In the second set Kartal dominated, losing only one game to move into the semi-fina 6-4, 6-1.

In the semi-final Kartal was against Natasja Schunk. The German was the toughest match so far. Schunk managed to break the serve of the Brit and took the lead. Kartal, however, re-grouped in the second set. The 20 year old managed to break the serve of Schunk and levelled up the match. The final set shoot out saw both trying hard to secure the break. Kartal eventually managed to get the break and didn’t look back. The 20 year old moved into the final 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The final saw Kartal against another British wildcard Talia Neilson Gatenby. The 16 year old had scythed through the filed to get to the final. Gatenby and Kartal stayed toe to toe in the first set. The 16 year old managed to secure a break of serve and take the lead. However, the 20 year old found her game in the second set. Kartal dominated the rest of the match, barely putting a foot wrong. Kartal claimed her third ITF title, but the first at this level in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

 

Doubles Event

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Eliz Maloney partnered with Andre Lukosuite for doubles. The Brit/Lithuanian drew Joanna Garland & Diana Mihail in the first round. Maloney & Lukosuite dominated the match from the outset. Gardland & Mihail were unable to get into the match. The Brit/Lithuanian broke at will to take the match 6-1, 6-1.

The quarter-final saw the Brit/Lithuanian against Ayumi Koshiishi & Barbora Palicova. The Japanese/Czech pair got off to the better start, breaking Maloney & Lukosuite to take the lead. The Brit/Lithuanian re-grouped and dominated the second set to level up the match. In the ensuing match tiebreak, Maloney & Lukosuite eased through to book a semi-final spot 4-6, 6-1, 10-4.

In the semi-final Maloney & Lukosuite were against fourth seeds Jodie Burrage & Freya Christie. The first set saw both pairs toe to toe. Eventually the fourth seeds made the breakthrough and took the lead. However, Maloney & Lukosuite were not going down without a fight. The Brit/Lithuanian re-grouped and took the second set to level the match. The match tiebreak started very close. Maloney & Lukosuite were able to make the break and book a spot in the final 5-7, 6-3, 10-5.

The final saw the Brit/Lithuanian against the top seeds Quinn Gleason & Catherine Harrison. The first set was very close as neither pair could make the break. In the ensuing tiebreak Maloney & Lukosuite edged the mini break and took the set. In the second set, the top seeds fought back. Breaking serve Gleason & Harrison levelled up the match. The match tiebreak was a very tense affair, however, eventually the Brit/Lithuanian secured the mini break and took the title 7-6(4), 3-6, 10-8.

 

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Birmingham Round Up

Tara Moore was defeated by Samantha Murray Sharan in the first round 6-1, 7-6(5).

Freya Christie was defeated by Emina Bektas in the first round 6-1, 6-0.

Eliz Maloney was defeated by Lisa Pigato in the first round 6-4, 6-2.

Armani Banks was defeated by Magali Kempen in the first round 6-3, 6-3.

Isabelle Lacy was defeated by Eva Lys in the second round 6-3, 6-1.

Lauryn John-Baptiste was defeated by Natajsa Schunk in the quarter-final 6-2, 7-5.

Jodie Burrage was defeated by Magali Kempen in the quarter-final 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Tabitha Holmes & Hannah Smith were defeated by Quinn Gleason & Catherine Harrison in the first round 7-6(2), 3-6, 10-6.

Soumeya Anane with Elaine Genovese were defeated by Lauryn John-Baptiste & Sonay Kartal in the first round 6-7(5), 6-1, 10-2.

Lauren Bishop & Paulina Jurkowska were defeated by Magali Kempen & Anna Zaja in the first round 6-3, 6-2.

Emily Appleton & Ali Collins were defeated by Elena Malygina & Arina Vasilescu in the first round 7-6(8), 2-6, 10-8.

Nadia Rawson with Annick Verhaar were defeated by Jodie Burrage & Freya Christie in the first round 6-0, 6-3.

Samantha Murray Sharan with Miriam Bolkvadze were defeated by Ayumi Koshiishi & Barbora Palicova in the first round 5-7, 6-4 10-4.

Lauryn John-Baptiste & Sonay Kartal were defeated by Quinn Gleason & Catherine Harrison in the quarter-final 7-5, 6-1.

Next week Brits play in Delray Beach, Doha, Benguluru, Forli, Glasgow, Germany, USA, Dubai, Australia, Mexico & Tunisia.

 

 

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