By Ros Satar
- Sonay Kartal v Kimberly Birrell
- H2H: Tied at 1-1 (ITF level)
ROME, ITALY – Sonay Kartal makes her Rome debut and takes on a familiar foe in Kimberly Birrell.
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Sonay Kartal v Kimberly Birrell | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Sonay Kartal v Kimberly Birrell | H2H: 1-1 (ITF) |
| WTA Rome | Italy |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €13,150 |
| Fourth on Campo Centrale, not before 3:30pm (2:30pm BST) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
Sonay Kartal makes her debut n Rome, and faces a familiar opponent, having met Kimberly Birrell twice in the ITF level events, with the pair splitting wins.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Clay 2025)
| H2H: | Sonay Kartal (WR 56) | Kimberly Birrell (WR 60) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | Qualification (2023) |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 36.0 | 36.9 |
| Return Points Won % | 40.3 | 45.6 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 43.8 | 48.1 |
| Break Points Saved % | 45.5 | 53.3 |
| Overall Service Points Won % | 53.2 | 49.8 |
Positioned relatively close in the rankings, Kartal has played slightly more on the dirt but Birrell just sneaks ahead in a few key stats.
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Playing Styles & Prediction
Kartal continues her steady rise up the rankings thanks to a solid run in Indian Wells, and was a vreat addition to the Billie Jean King Cup team, getting wins on clay. Birrell is also riding high with a new career high, having been to four WTA quarter-finals this season.
She has started slowly so far on the clay, and the heavy clay in Rome will be a change from the altitude of Madrid for both players, where Kartal went one round further.
Kartal can expect a fight, as the pair meet for the first time on the dirt.
Prediction: Kartal in three sets.
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