Britain’s Sonay Kartal is set for another challenging night at the ASB Classic as she faces Germany’s Ella Seidel. The matchup comes after Kartal’s grueling first-round victory over sixth seed Janice Tjen, which she won 6-1, 6-7, 6-3. The match showcased a significant shift in momentum, starting with Kartal’s dominant opening set, evolving into a lengthy and physical contest that required her to dig deep for the win.
Seidel advanced to the second round with a commanding straight-sets win against New Zealand wildcard Monique Barry, positioning both players to gain early-season momentum as they enter this pivotal clash.
Reflecting on her encounter with Tjen, Kartal expressed her satisfaction with securing the victory despite the match’s challenges. “It was super tough. I knew it was going to be a tough battle. I’d seen her play. I’d never played her, but I knew exactly what to expect,” she said, admitting frustration over not closing it out sooner but ultimately pleased to start the year with a win following a long break from competition.
Kartal’s ability to endure tough matches has become a hallmark of her rising career, particularly highlighted by her notable fourth-round run at Wimbledon last year, where she famously defeated Jelena Ostapenko. This experience has shifted her mindset towards competition, allowing her to adopt a more aggressive approach. “I’ve got a different mindset when I play now,” she noted. “I’m looking to be more aggressive and open-minded about adding certain things into my game.”
The intensity of her first match in Auckland tested this newly adopted mindset. Rather than viewing the extended play as a setback, Kartal sees it as a valuable early-season indicator. “There’s loads of positives,” she acknowledged. “If you can get through a tough two-and-a-half-hour, three-set match at the start of the year, it shows you’ve had a good pre-season and that the body’s feeling good.”
This marks Kartal’s first trip to New Zealand, and she has found the transition relatively smooth, appreciating the similarities in conditions to her home in London. She even took some time to explore Waiheke Island before the competition began, which she enjoyed.
As the tournament progresses, the matchup between Kartal and Seidel promises to be an exciting highlight, along with other intriguing matches scheduled for Thursday, including a bout between fourth seed Alexandra Eala and Petra Marcinko, and the top-seded Elina Svitolina facing Britain’s Katie Boulter in the evening session. This tournament is shaping up to be a showcase of competitive spirit as players look to establish their early-season form.