Sonay Kartal Upsets 16th Seed at Indian Wells, Advances to Round of 16

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — British tennis player Sonay Kartal, ranked No. 83 in the world, achieved the biggest win of her career by defeating Brazil’s 16th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-1 at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday. This victory marks Kartal’s first win against a top-20 opponent, propelling her into the third round of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament.

Kartal, 23, originally lost in the second qualifying round of the tournament but secured a spot in the main draw as a lucky loser following the withdrawal of former US Open champion Sloane Stephens due to injury. “Being a lucky loser takes the pressure off and you could say it’s a good position to be in,” Kartal told BBC Sport. “It’s nice to have this second chance and almost like a free run at it.”

After defeating 38-year-old American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko in the first round, Kartal utilized her growing confidence on the new courts to dismantle Haddad Maia, who was appearing lackluster amid a five-match losing streak. “It was one of those matches where you come off court thinking ‘I can’t fault myself too much,'” Kartal said. “I’m super proud of that performance and it’s given me a lot of confidence heading into the next match.”

Kartal’s path to the third round is notable not only because of her impressive performance but also due to her rapid ascent in the rankings over the past year. After capturing her maiden tour title in Monastir in October, she broke into the top 100 for the first time. Earlier this year, health challenges had left her uncertain about her future in the sport, but she made a strong comeback within three months and has been steadily improving.

Next, Kartal faces 60th-ranked Polina Kudermetova, who has also advanced with solid victories in the tournament, including a win over the 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka has also advanced, defeating McCartney Kessler 7-6(4), 6-3, and is set to face Italian Lucia Bronzetti in the next round. Sabalenka, who is returning from a challenging start to the season, expressed relief at moving forward in the tournament. “I’m really happy that I was able to manage all the emotions and get this tough win,” she said.

American Madison Keys, who recently captured her first Grand Slam title, continued her strong form by defeating Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-0. Keys, now ranked No. 5, will face Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the next round.

In another close match, World No. 3 Coco Gauff triumphed over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, despite struggling with 21 double faults, to secure a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4) win. Gauff, who ended a three-match losing streak, will now meet Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the next round.