Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal suffered a first-round exit at the Abu Dhabi Open, falling to American Katie Volynets in a three-set battle. Despite a strong start, Kartal ultimately succumbed to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat in her first match since the Australian Open.
Promising Start, Tough Finish
The 23-year-old Briton, currently ranked 91st in the world, looked sharp early on. After dropping serve in the opening game, she responded impressively, breaking back and stringing together three consecutive games to seal the first set.
However, Volynets, ranked 68th, came out firing in the second set, racing to a 5-0 lead. Kartal showed resilience, launching a spirited fightback to close the gap to 5-4, but the American held her nerve to level the match.
Decisive Third Set
The final set saw a scrappy exchange of six consecutive breaks of serve, with neither player able to gain full control. In the end, it was Volynets who capitalized on her first match point, securing the win and a second-round clash against top seed Elena Rybakina.
Kartal’s Growing Presence on Tour
Despite the loss, Kartal’s top-100 breakthrough last season and Australian Open debut mark key career milestones. Gaining experience, she aims to build on her progress and establish consistency on the WTA Tour.
Katie Volynets secured a hard-fought victory over Sonay Kartal in the Abu Dhabi opener, displaying grit and determination throughout the match. Kartal put up a strong challenge, but Volynets remained composed under pressure, sealing the win with her consistency and powerful baseline play. With this victory, Volynets advances further, continuing her strong form in the tournament.
