Kartal misses out on first major quarter-final

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.