Sonay Kartal falls to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro despite second-set fightback

During the Australian Open in Melbourne, Sonay Kartal faced Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the opening round of the tournament. The match began with significant delays caused by heavy rain, which pushed the contest to start approximately three and a half hours later than scheduled. In the first set, Kartal struggled against Bouzas Maneiro, who won nine consecutive games, leading to a dominant 6-1 scoreline. Despite the rocky start, Kartal initiated a comeback in the second set, overcoming a 0-3 deficit to reach a tiebreaker. She displayed resilience by saving a match point and breaking Bouzas Maneiro's serve twice. However, tensions ran high as the players dealt with confusion regarding line calls, which may have affected their focus. As the tiebreaker unfolded, Kartal led 4-2 but ultimately succumbed to Bouzas Maneiro, who rallied to win the critical points, securing the match with a final score of 7-6 (5). Following her loss, Kartal expressed disappointment in her performance but remained optimistic about future opportunities in her career. This match marked Kartal's debut at the Australian Open, and despite her defeat, she was recognized as the only British player in action on the chaotic opening day. Kartal's quick rise in the rankings in the past year had earned her a spot in the main draw, and she is looking forward to bouncing back in upcoming matches, hoping to build on her newfound momentum in professional tennis.