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Sonay Kartal Exits Abu Dhabi Open in Opening Round

Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal faced a challenging opener at the Abu Dhabi Open, where she was eliminated by American Katie Volynets in a tightly contested three-set match.

The 23-year-old Kartal managed to secure the first set against Volynets, who is ranked 68th in the world, but ultimately succumbed with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Ranked 91st globally, Kartal had achieved a notable milestone by breaking into the top 100 towards the end of the previous season. This match marked her first competitive outing since her debut at a Grand Slam event during the recent Australian Open, where she also exited in the first round.

In a display of resilience, Kartal bounced back after losing her serve in the opening game, turning the tide to clinch the first set by winning three consecutive games.

Volynets, also 23 years old, quickly gained momentum in the second set, racing to a commanding 5-0 lead. Although Kartal made a significant effort to mount a comeback, bringing the score to 5-4, she ultimately lost her service again, allowing Volynets to secure the set and take the match to a deciding third set.

The final set was marked by intense rallies, highlighted by six consecutive breaks of serve as both players battled for supremacy. In a crucial moment, Volynets seized her first match point, securing victory and advancing to a second-round encounter against top seed Elena Rybakina.

Source
www.bbc.com