ROLAND GARROS

May 27, 2025

Sonay Kartal

Press Conference

S. KARTAL/E. Andreeva

6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the win. How do you reflect open your match and how are you approaching the second round of Roland Garros?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, obviously it was a pretty convincing scoreline. I don't think either of us played our best tennis, if I'm being honest. I think that we probably both had a new nerves.

Mentally I was super tough. Managed to just always keep that lead. I think after that 6-Love first set, I think you always expect your opponent to come out and start to get kind of fired up and play a little bit better, which obviously she did.

So yeah, happy to kind of keep the momentum going and never let her really get insight into that match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you plan to celebrate this career milestone? Something on the menu tonight?

SONAY KARTAL: Actually I got doubles first thing tomorrow morning. Yeah, I mean, I'm not celebrating just yet until I finish. I definitely want to go further than just first round this year.

Yeah, just be some dinner and bed, get fired up for doubles tomorrow.

Q. When you reflect on where you were this time a year ago, coming back after you didn't know if you'd even be playing, how does it feel to be where you are now? Does that give you motivation in moments like this?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I think I've had a good start to the year. I've had a good clay season, I guess. Maybe not the results I've wanted, but I feel like I'm playing well. I'm handling the new experiences well. Things are becoming more familiar for me, as well.

I think it's a bit of both. But yeah, I'm super, super proud of where I am today. Yeah, definitely not taking anything for granted.

Q. How much are you enjoying these conditions, these courts? How much do you feel like they suit your game?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I think I'd suit both conditions. Obviously today was raining in the first set, so the courts were damp. It was pretty heavy, wasn't as lively. Much slower. I think that suits me.

I think also if it's midday, sunny, that ball is going to shoot up a lot more. I think my forehand is going to definitely react to that court well.

Yeah, I've played in both scenarios prior to the match today. Both of the surfaces are suiting me well.

Q. You're the fifth British winner in the singles this week. How aware are you of that and your reaction to it?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I watched the girls play yesterday. Watched Cam play this morning, as well, which was a crazy match.

Yeah, we passed each other in the locker rooms. I saw Katie before going on. We had a little chat.

It's nice that we're all doing so well. Obviously we're all super close and we're training with each other. I think for British tennis, it's super positive. I think that we all want each other to do well. With grass coming around the corner, as well, I think we all want to get in the best head space we can. Obviously I know a lot of them don't prefer the clay as much, but no, they're having great results. Everyone's playing well.

Yeah, I think as far as British tennis, we're in a really healthy spot right now.

Q. Any targets for a tattoo here, an Eiffel Tower or something like that?

SONAY KARTAL: You know what? I actually had one booked tomorrow at 11. But I'm on at 11. My sister just texted me and she's changed it to 4. Yeah, I'll be getting one tomorrow (smiling).

Not actually sure what I'm going to get. I know she wants to get one, as well, so she's booked it. I think she wants matching, so I'll get whatever she wants.

Q. (No microphone.)

SONAY KARTAL: Honestly, I don't know. I'm hoping not just to have one. I would like to go back on a different day, as well. Maybe once I'm finished here, I'll get something that resembles the French Open maybe.

Q. You seem pretty laid back in general. This win could put you in the top 50. How much do you pay attention to the rankings? How much of an achievement is that, if that happens?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I'm super laid back. It's my personality. I think it helps me on the court definitely a lot, as well.

Yeah, I don't necessarily look at the rankings. But I have heard from a few people that I'm definitely pushing toward that. It was a goal of mine to end the year inside top 50. I think if I can do that, ideally before grass, that would be a huge, huge goal to achieve for me.

Yeah, obviously now I've got a lot of points coming off this grass, as well. I'm trying to take each match as it comes, not kind of look at the rankings. I'm still pretty young, so I've got a lot of time to catch that.

Q. On the tattoos, where was it going to be?

SONAY KARTAL: It's going to be on my arm somewhere, I think my left arm. Yeah, I tend to just chuck them on and get them a bit scattered at the minute.

Q. How many have you got?

SONAY KARTAL: 13. So I'm happy to get it off No. 13. Yeah, I've been stuck on that one. I haven't been able to get it. I'm happy to take it to 14 (smiling).

Q. On a serious note, it does hurt when you have a tattoo. How do you play a match? Smaller ones don't hurt?

SONAY KARTAL: Honestly, the niggles I carry on the court every day are much more painful than that. Somewhere on my arm is not too sore. I've got a few.

No, it's nothing like a tennis niggle.

Q. Back to the general British success here, have you noticed a change in mindset among the group over the clay court season, a more positive approach?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I mean, I'm always super positive because I love the clay. I think I'm, on the girls' side, one of the very few.

The rest of the girls, they all seem in a really good place. They seem much more confident on it. I've been training with them, they're moving so much better. I think everything in their game style has just got so much better.

You can see they're much more comfortable with moving on the clay. A lot of it is about movement. They're moving great. I think they're adapting their game styles a little bit, as well.

Q. Have you been teaching them, giving them tips as the resident clay court specialist?

SONAY KARTAL: No, I mean, I joke with Katie a little bit about the forehand, getting some spin off of it. Obviously she hits a massive ball. I've been trying to get her to spin it a little bit more. Whether or not she takes it onboard or not, but if I see the odd one or two, I'll definitely take that as my advice has paid off.

Q. You said your sister is here. How nice has it been able to have your family watch you at these big events? Other than tattoos, what are you doing off the court?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, my mum is here, as well, which is rare. She doesn't normally travel. She comes to the British swing.

It is nice for my sister to come. Apart from Wimbledon, it's her second one she's ever been to.

She knows nothing about tennis, so I am trying to teach her. She probably didn't even know like if I won today or not or when I won. Obviously it's nice to have kind of people to hang out with in the evenings and just take your mind off of it.

Yeah, we've been kind of exploring in the evenings, going kind of central, getting some good food. Yeah, she's super fun. She's super chill like me. Yeah, we bounce off of each other, so it's nice.

Q. Can you put your finger on why British players are doing better on the clay? Is it coaching, the group in general playing well?

SONAY KARTAL: It's hard for me to answer for them. I think mentally there might be a shift. I think that obviously they've all had some great wins. Obviously Emma has been doing really well the last few weeks. Katie won that one in Paris.

When you do start to rack up a few wins on clay, you do start to eventually feel in a much better place. You're more confident. I think when anyone has confidence, they're always playing better, as well.

Yeah, I'd say maybe they're more open to it. I don't know. Haven't spoken to them too much. Yeah, I think they've got more confidence. Obviously they played more matches on it, more experience as the years go by. I'd say it's probably a mix of things.