THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Sonay Kartal

Press Conference

S. KARTAL/J. Ostapenko

7-5, 2-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Sonay, how did it feel to be out there today in front of the home crowd?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I really wanted to play on Court 3. It was the court I was hoping I was going to get. I had great memories from last year, as well.

Obviously, we both knew how each other played, having played each other last week in Eastbourne.

Yeah, I'm super proud of that win. Typically, I struggle against the big hitters. So to be able to do that, get the win in front of the home crowd, I'm super proud of that one.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said on court, that was one of your most difficult matches. Was it the opponent? Was it the occasion? The heat?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I think it was my opponent, for sure. She can go through games, even sets, just playing tennis that's just unplayable. The pace she gets on the ball and the angle she gets off the ball is honestly unreadable at times. I knew that was going to happen. I knew it happened last week. I knew I just had to stay with it. If she was going to go on a good run, just not get too down, and know that hopefully I was going to get my opportunity, and when I got the opportunity, to maximize it the most I could.

Q. You talked your confidence growing in the last year ever since the Wimbledon run a year ago. How much can beating a 20 seed give you going into the rest of the tournament?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I mean, I felt great coming into it. So to come off and play the opening round and to get that kind of win, I've got masses of confidence. I think I played pretty well today. I think I handled her pace well, deflected her pace as best as I could. I think I served very well, as well.

Yeah, I don't think that I could have done too much better at times in that match. Yeah, I feel confident. I feel like this is the best I've ever played on grass. It's the most confident I've also got in my game, as well. I think I'm in a pretty good spot for round two.

Q. Obviously, you've now had four wins at Wimbledon, three last year, one already this year. Where does the one today rank in terms of when you look at all your appearances here?

SONAY KARTAL: I would say it probably ranks top, I think. Just proving to myself that I can compete with the best. She's obviously an incredible player and has so much experience on the tour, as well. She has an amazing game for grass.

I think that one is probably my biggest win, and also kind of I left the court with so much more confidence than I did in the ones last year, for sure.

Q. You were one of the first Brits out on court today. I think there's 13 or 14 of you out today. Did you feel like you wanted to start things off positively for the Brits, get some momentum for everyone?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I mean, I quite like being first. It's not something that bothers me, first or last.

Yeah, I was happy to be first up. You know when you're going to be on. Yeah, I guess the other guys that are coming out can maybe get a bit of motivation from my win. I think I saw already one of the boys has already won.

Yeah, I think it doesn't bother me being first, but I hope that maybe it can give the other guys a bit of extra motivation, if they need it.

Q. Coming back here after last year, did you feel inspired going out there today? Are you going to get a tattoo to celebrate?

SONAY KARTAL: A tattoo? Maybe not for the first round. Maybe I would have to go a few rounds further to get one, I think. Maybe if I made it to the second week, I'll probably get one. Knowing me, I'd get one.

Yeah, I mean, I'm just so happy to be back and to be playing as well as I did today. I enjoyed every second being on that court. It was an incredible atmosphere. To have the crowd in your ear just supporting you when you need it the most, yeah, it's super touching and it means a lot.

Q. How many matches did you play on Court 3 last year? Your favorite?

SONAY KARTAL: Just the one last year. I just love the court, like I love the size of the court. It's not too big. It has a nice feel. The crowd are pretty close to you.

Yeah, I don't know, sometimes you get on a court and you kind of feel at home. For me, that's Court 3.

Q. You were the first game without the human line judges. How did you find that experience different? Hearing the calls, was that okay? There's been some complaints from some other players that it's been a bit quiet.

SONAY KARTAL: No, I mean, obviously we played a few tournaments now that have the no umpires.

But yeah, I think for me it was fine. I hit a few shots that were at a pretty big moment and the crowd kind of went nuts, so maybe I lost it a bit in that. Apart from that, I didn't have any complaints. It was perfectly fine for my court.

Q. A different atmosphere on the court without the line judges there?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I mean, I was a bit sad when they said they wasn't going to do it. I kind of like the tradition and all sorts. Yeah, I think obviously the game is developing. I guess we've all got to kind of follow suit.

I think we're all so used to this new system now that it's not really an issue anymore.

Q. There's obviously a lot of attention on Emma here, in particular, during these two weeks. Does that help you? Do you feel a little bit able to go under the radar a little? That she takes a lot of the attention way?

SONAY KARTAL: It's not something that bothers me, to be honest with you. I would say my whole career I've kind of gone under the radar a bit. I've kind of just been left in my own little lane to get along.

I'm used to it. Whether the spotlight was on me or wasn't or me, I don't think it makes a difference to me at all, to be honest with you.

Q. You like being center stage, as well.

SONAY KARTAL: I have no issue with it. Center stage or not center stage. I'm happy either way.

Q. The loss you had to Ostapenko in Eastbourne, what did your team talk about, how you changed things for today's match.

SONAY KARTAL: I'd say the biggest thing we changed was probably my returns, return positioning, just how I approach the return.

In that second set last week at Eastbourne, obviously it was tough losing. It was one event I really wanted to do well in. I think the biggest thing we changed was just my return positioning, taking the return a little bit earlier, kind of rushing her down the middle.

She's great on the run, can find incredible angles. It was just to kind of put a lot of pressure and put the balls kind of fast at her down the middle to take away some of the time.

Q. Just watching you, it felt hot. Can you describe, is that one of the hottest you felt on court? Where does that rank? This is actually the hottest opening day officially. How did you feel on court?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, I mean, I think I'm lucky that I was first up. Obviously it's going to get much hotter later as the day goes on.

Yeah, I'm not going to lie, it was pretty hot. I think a bit of a rookie mistake, not doing change of clothes at the end of the set.

It was hot, but I had ice towels, cold drinks and stuff. I wouldn't say it affected me too much. Nice to play in no wind, no rain. I think it's a good first day.

Q. You said you might get a new tattoo second week. What might you get?

SONAY KARTAL: What would I get? I haven't thought about it. I'll come back to you in the next press conference. But I've got a few that are in the lineup, as well. So I have to see if we can bump the queue.

Q. Not strawberries or Wimbledon...

SONAY KARTAL: No. I don't think so. I wouldn't get something that obvious. I would get something that people are connected to Wimbledon and understand Wimbledon, they would understand. Maybe not necessarily to somebody not involved in tennis. I would like to get something related to Wimbledon.

Q. 14 you have now?

SONAY KARTAL: Yeah, French made it 14.

Q. Just getting a win like that in the first round, how much confidence does that give you for the rest of the tournament?

SONAY KARTAL: Honestly, so much. Yeah, it's nerve-wracking coming up. Even though the run I had last year, the nerves are exactly the same. I just think the more you do it, the easier it is to handle it yourself.

Yeah, I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself. But that was just because I had family, friends here. I wanted to kind of deliver on the first day at your home slam.

Yeah, to get that kind of win and take a seed out first round. I already had loads of confidence prior to playing. Yeah, I've got a lot more now.

Q. A lot of people are enjoying your adidas retro kit.

SONAY KARTAL: I'm not going to lie, I did see the design a few months ago. Yeah, couldn't wait to get it on.

I think this kit this year is incredible. I love that they've gone back to the old logo. Gone a bit retro. Obviously there's different styles of kit that others are playing in, as well. I think it's a super classy look.

Q. You said a rookie mistake not changing clothes. It looked a little warm.

SONAY KARTAL: Obviously, the top's a bit of a baggier top so it's going to retain a little bit more water. I guess when you're kind of moving, you feel a bit heavier with a baggy T-shirt.

I kind of just after that second set wanted to get straight back out there and just kind of knock along, put my head down and just continue.

Maybe it was a good decision. It paid off in the end. Yeah, I think maybe for the next match, we'll maybe change.

Q. Might you go through the summer tournaments with that kind of kit?

SONAY KARTAL: I liked it. Honestly, I loved it. I had a couple decisions what I was going to wear. Yeah, I mean, I like the color. Probably something I'm never going to wear in my career again. When am I going to wear a boxy polo look? I love the kit. Absolutely love it.