In an impressive display of skill and determination, Sonay Kartal, the British No. 2, secured her spot in the Round of 16 at the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open by defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucsa with a score of 6-3, 7-6(8). This victory marked an important milestone for Kartal, who will now face top seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on Wednesday.
Kartal, currently ranked No. 61 in the world, has had a mixed start to the season, reaching the quarter-finals in Auckland but struggling in the first round of the Australian Open against Anna Kalinskaya. In Abu Dhabi, she maneuvered through the qualifying rounds without losing a set, overcoming both Yulia Starodubsteva and Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Despite Bucsa’s higher ranking, seated four places ahead of Kartal, the Brit demonstrated superior form throughout this match. She dominated the first set and led 5-2 in the second, though Bucsa made a resilient comeback to force a tiebreak. Ultimately, Kartal triumphed after a rigorous hour and 33 minutes on court.
For her upcoming match, Kartal will be challenged by Bencic, a seasoned competitor who received a bye in the first round. Bencic is currently ranked No. 9 and will be looking to assert her dominance early in the tournament.
The second day of the Abu Dhabi Open attracted large crowds at Zayed Sports City, where tennis enthusiasts were treated to thrilling matches, including a notable performance by Alex Eala. The young star from the Philippines edged past her close friend Zeynep Sonmez, winning 6-4, 6-3 in an exciting match that lasted just under an hour and a half. Eala’s victory improves her head-to-head record against Sonmez to 3-0.
Eala, who recently made history by entering the Top 50 rankings, was grateful for the support from fans, particularly the Filipino community, who came out in droves to cheer her on. She expressed her admiration for Sonmez, highlighting their friendship that transcends tennis.
In another gripping matchup, Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, the 7th seed, showcased remarkable resilience by saving two match points against Russian qualifier Oksana Selekhmeteva. After a tense contest that lasted over two and a half hours, Ostapenko emerged victorious with a scoreline of 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-2. This win marked her first successful escape from match point down since a similar triumph in Linz last year.
Ostapenko will next face 19-year-old Sara Bejlek, who advanced after a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over last year’s runner-up, Ashlyn Krueger. Bejlek’s performance was characterized by precise drop shots that left her opponent flat-footed.
The day also featured a gripping three-set encounter between Australian player Maya Joint and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, with Tjen eventually taking the match 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-3. Tjen expressed her gratitude for the vocal support from fans, which significantly boosted her performance.
Additionally, Swiss qualifier Simona Waltert pulled off an impressive comeback against Daria Kasatkina, winning 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4, while Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska advanced past Beatriz Haddad Maia, setting up an exciting clash against the tournament’s second seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova.
As the tournament continues, players will be eyeing strategic victories to advance further, guaranteeing a riveting spectacle of tennis in Abu Dhabi.
