Sonay Kartal stuns 29th seed Sorana Cirstea for her first Wimbledon win

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Sonay Kartal made it a hat-trick of British female winners on day one of Wimbledon with a career-best victory over 29th seed Sorana Cirstea.

Kartal had dropped to 298 in the world after a difficult 12 months due to health problems and had to qualify for this year’s Championships.

A string of excellent displays at Roehampton last week booked Kartal’s place in the main draw and the British number nine backed it up with a superb 3-6 6-2 6-0 win over Cirstea on Monday to join Emma Raducanu and Lily Miyazaki in round two.

On her third consecutive appearance at the All England Club, Kartal quickly found herself a break down on Court 15 against experienced Romanian Cirstea.

Kartal saved the first two set points, but Cirstea claimed the opener at the third time of asking in 38 minutes without facing a break point.

It was a different story in the second, with Kartal finally able to fashion opportunities on Cirstea’s serve in a decisive sixth game which went the way of the Briton.

A forehand winner down the line by Kartal forced a decider, which started with a marathon 14-minute game.

Kartal eventually held and it wore down the resistance of world number 31 Cirstea, who was bageled after being broken three times in the final set.

Victory was sealed by Kartal with a superb return winner via her explosive forehand to earn the 22-year-old a maiden Wimbledon triumph, which sets up a second-round tie with Clara Burel on Wednesday and earns her a £93,000 payday.