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Why Sonay Kartal becoming British number one is not a good sign for British tennis

Sonay Kartal’s rise to British number one in women’s tennis comes with a concerning backdrop for the nation’s other top players. Kartal’s rapid ascent—from a six-month absence due to a stress fracture in her back to reaching the Wuhan Open final—has propelled her past Katie Boulter, who now sits nine spots behind her at world number 58.

Kartal’s strong run, which included victories over Elina Svitolina, Jasmine Paolini, and Belinda Bencic before falling to Maja Chwalinska, has vaulted her from world number 170 to 49, though she remains shy of her career-best ranking of 44. The issue?

Kartal’s injury sidelined her for half the year, leaving Boulter, Fran Jones (99), and Harriet Dart (117) with fewer opportunities to climb the rankings. Even Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, appears to have ended her season early after her own stress fracture, further narrowing the competition for the top spot next year.

While Kartal’s dedication and quick recovery are commendable, her sudden dominance raises questions about the depth of British tennis when a player’s absence creates such a gap among peers.

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