Category Sports News

Britain’s Sonay Kartal missed the chance to reach a first Grand Slam quarter-final with defeat by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a match that saw controversy over a faulty line call.

It was a gallant effort from the 23-year-old, who ultimately succumbed 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to the experience and know-how of former French Open finalist Pavlyuchenkova.

Play was halted by the umpire in the ninth game of the first set when Kartal’s backhand dropped long but the electronic line-calling system failed to call it out and the point had to be replayed.

Ranked 51 in the world, Kartal was already enjoying her best run at a Grand Slam having never gone beyond the third round.

She was aiming to become the first British woman to reach the quarter-finals at SW19 since Johanna Konta in 2019.

This time last year she was ranked outside the world’s top 250 players but her efforts at the All England Club this week will see her attain a new career-high ranking after the tournament.

The rising star of British tennis will take comfort in her achievements – victory over a top-20 player in the first round, resilience to come from behind when needed and a memorable Centre Court debut in front of a partisan crowd at her home Grand Slam.

In a contest reflective of the one place that separates the two in the rankings, there were six breaks of serve in a chaotic first set.

Pavlyuchenkova’s heavy-hitting style brought more winners but also more unforced errors as Kartal took advantage of her speed to chase the ball down, clearly unhampered despite the heavy strapping to her knee.

The Russian knew Kartal backs herself when it comes to movement but tried to wear her down.

Having worked herself a break-back point at 3-2, Pavlyuchenkova pinged shots to one side of the baseline then the other, sending Kartal scurrying back and forth before cleverly deploying the drop shot – at which point Kartal stood with her hands on her hips in disbelief she hadn’t won the point.

The tension was ramped up further when on Pavlyuchenkova’s game point on serve at 4-4, Kartal’s backhand dropped long but the electronic line-calling system failed to call it.

Kartal then went on to break in a game that Pavlyuchenkova should have won and the Russian fumed at the change of ends but regrouped to put the controversy behind her and take the opening set after a tie-break.

After a drama-filled one hour and 18 minutes, set two was a much lower-key affair.

Pavlyuchenkova, perhaps fuelled by her frustration at the technology failure, turned up the pressure to break in the fifth game and that proved to be decisive as she served out victory to book her place in the last eight with a ripping forehand.

Britain’s Sonay Kartal missed the chance to reach a first Grand Slam quarter-final with defeat by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a match that saw controversy over a faulty line call.

It was a gallant effort from the 23-year-old, who ultimately succumbed 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to the experience and know-how of former French Open finalist Pavlyuchenkova.

Play was halted by the umpire in the ninth game of the first set when Kartal’s backhand dropped long but the electronic line-calling system failed to call it out and the point had to be replayed.

Ranked 51 in the world, Kartal was already enjoying her best run at a Grand Slam having never gone beyond the third round.

She was aiming to become the first British woman to reach the quarter-finals at SW19 since Johanna Konta in 2019.

This time last year she was ranked outside the world’s top 250 players but her efforts at the All England Club this week will see her attain a new career-high ranking after the tournament.

The rising star of British tennis will take comfort in her achievements – victory over a top-20 player in the first round, resilience to come from behind when needed and a memorable Centre Court debut in front of a partisan crowd at her home Grand Slam.

In a contest reflective of the one place that separates the two in the rankings, there were six breaks of serve in a chaotic first set.

Pavlyuchenkova’s heavy-hitting style brought more winners but also more unforced errors as Kartal took advantage of her speed to chase the ball down, clearly unhampered despite the heavy strapping to her knee.

The Russian knew Kartal backs herself when it comes to movement but tried to wear her down.

Having worked herself a break-back point at 3-2, Pavlyuchenkova pinged shots to one side of the baseline then the other, sending Kartal scurrying back and forth before cleverly deploying the drop shot – at which point Kartal stood with her hands on her hips in disbelief she hadn’t won the point.

The tension was ramped up further when on Pavlyuchenkova’s game point on serve at 4-4, Kartal’s backhand dropped long but the electronic line-calling system failed to call it.

Kartal then went on to break in a game that Pavlyuchenkova should have won and the Russian fumed at the change of ends but regrouped to put the controversy behind her and take the opening set after a tie-break.

After a drama-filled one hour and 18 minutes, set two was a much lower-key affair.

Pavlyuchenkova, perhaps fuelled by her frustration at the technology failure, turned up the pressure to break in the fifth game and that proved to be decisive as she served out victory to book her place in the last eight with a ripping forehand.

Celtic continued their domination of Scottish football last season, but even the league champions have faced challenges this summer.

Not only did an otherwise successful two-trophy season end in disappointment as they lost to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final, but there are the inevitable comings and goings in the transfer market.

In goal, Celtic have had an almost like-for-like change, with long-time back-up Scott Bain heading to promoted Falkirk in search of first-team starts and the younger Ross Doohan, who had been in a similar position with Aberdeen, returning to the Glasgow club to effectively be a number three behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

In central defence, Maik Nawrocki has joined German second-tier side Hannover 96 on loan with an option to buy while Hayato Inamura has been bought from J-League relegation candidates Albirex Niigata.

However, although the Polish 24-year-old made all of five appearances last season, it appears that the Japanese player, one year younger, will not be a straight replacement considering Rodgers is thinking of sending him straight out on loan.

It is at left-back, though, where the Celtic face a more taxing transfer dilemma.

The return of Kieran Tierney at the end of his Arsenal contract was generally welcomed as a marquee signing that will strengthen the starting XI.

However, with fellow Scotland defender Greg Taylor rejecting a new deal and joining PAOK in Greece and experienced back-up Jeffrey Schlupp returning to Crystal Palace at the end of his loan, it leaves Celtic with “a tough sell” for any potential replacement, according to former Falkirk striker Rory Loy.

“If you are going to go out and get a really established left-back who’s coming in, the first thing you do, you look at their squad and you see Kieran Tierney there,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.

“It is a hard thing to say to a left-back that you’re coming in as second choice. “

Loy believes an older player, like Schlupp, or young player happy to “come in for a few games” may be the markets Celtic search for a Taylor replacement.

With winger Jota absent through injury until near the end of the year, Celtic needed an immediate replacement on the wing and got it early on with the purchase from Danish club Nordsjaelland of Benjamin Nygren.

The 23-year-old recent Sweden cap has the potential to be just as exciting as the sidelined Portuguese but Celtic will have to search for yet another wide man should Nicolas Kuhn complete his expected transfer to ambitious Serie A upstarts Como.

Rodgers suggested it would be “great business all round” should the 25-year-old be sold for what will reportedly be five times the £3m Celtic paid Rapid Vienna for the German in January last year.

They will, though, need to find someone of a calibre to match Kuhn’s 21 goals in 41 starts and 10 substitute appearances last season.

“He’s almost blown hot and cold at points and, towards the end of the season, looked like a player that was ready to go,” Crichton suggested. “I just feel his performance levels dipped.

“For whatever reason, it maybe just doesn’t feel like that’s the long-term project for him and Celtic. I don’t think Brendan Rodgers is the type of manager that would wait about and try to encourage you to stay at Celtic and apply yourself.

“So, for both parties, it looks like a pretty fair deal. He is not irreplaceable. “

Former Rangers assistant Billy Dodds suggested “it is the right time to sell – it is a no-brainer, it’s time to go” and fellow former Ibrox striker Loy concurred.

While West Ham United raided Celtic Park for prospect Daniel Cummings, the Scottish champions returned the favour by taking fellow 19-year-old striker Callum Osmand from Fulham.

Johnny Kenny, meanwhile, will be hoping to persuade Rodgers that he is ready for more first-team action after the 22-year-old made some fleeting appearances at the end of last season after impressing for Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League.

However, with the Celtic manager admitting he is considering another loan for the Irishman, he will be looking elsewhere for the delayed replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi, who left in January for Rennes but this weekend joined Birmingham City.

Crichton believes losing the Scottish Cup final was proof that Celtic lacked some “firepower” despite one of Kyogo’s Japan team-mates having proved he can be effective up front.

“Daizen Maeda does a real good job through the middle – Adam Idah is there as well,” she said. “But Celtic are a team that scores goals from all over the pitch. “

Dodds suggested: “Surely they are going to have to add a striker. They are desperate to get Maeda back out wide.

Loy believes, looking at Celtic’s early moves in the transfer market, “quite possibly they are slightly weaker” but points out they normally wait until close to the end of the transfer window.

“I think they paid over the odds getting Idah in the door recently, so it’s not always worked in their favour, waiting that long,” he said.

“But I don’t think there will be any panic or rush from Celtic. If you look at Kyogo and Kuhn, that’s another £25m to add to all the other transfers. “

Roy thinks bigger signings might hinge on Celtic winning their Champions League play-off.

“Celtic fans need to be a bit more patient than other clubs, but they are in a very good position,” he said.

Dodds pointed out that “Celtic don’t panic” despite supporters urging them to dip into the money they have in the bank.

“They take their time and usually get it right,” he said.

Dodds, who finished the season as Rangers’ assistant head coach, suggested that only 30% of the squad he and Barry Ferguson had were right for the club.

“Celtic have 80% of their squad right and 20% wrong,” he thought. “They have got it right, so they don’t have to rush, but the Celtic fans, having lost to Aberdeen, won’t accept another hiccup. “