Her Milestone Achievement: For the first time, she advanced to the fourth round before being knocked out by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Key Insights: Even though Kartal cites clay as her preferred playing surface, her performance on grass hasn’t come as a surprise.
In women’s tennis, it’s common to see those who thrive on clay perform well on grass. The two surfaces facilitate spin, albeit in opposing manners.
Players who favor heavy topspin, like Kartal, also tend to excel with their slice backhands, showcasing their versatility.
Take, for instance, Jasmine Paolini and Ons Jabeur—both have made their mark in recent Wimbledon finals, illustrating the advantage of adaptability and spin utilization on grass.
Path Forward: There’s still potential for growth.
When reflecting on recent top-10 women, one can’t help but wonder, ‘Why not Kartal?’
Her adaptability is remarkable, propelling her quickly up the rankings. She’s sharp in responding to ball pace and adjusting her intensity as she competes against higher-ranked opponents.
This year presents a fantastic opportunity for her, as many players are yet to fully understand her game.
If she manages to stay ahead of the curve while opponents begin to identify her vulnerabilities, she has the potential to ascend further in the ranks.