The spotlight at the LTA's National Tennis Centre has rarely been brighter, but for two British women on starkly different trajectories, the glare illuminates contrasting realities. While Emma Raducanu continues to navigate the immense expectations that followed her historic 2021 US Open triumph, her compatriot, Sonay Kartal, is quietly, and brilliantly, constructing the most successful season of her career.
This divergence was thrown into sharp relief recently when Raducanu, after a hard-fought victory, made a succinct, ten-word comment about her current approach to the sport: "I'm just taking it tournament by tournament and seeing where I am." This seemingly innocuous statement, a standard athlete trope, was immediately seized upon by sections of the media and online commentators. For some, it was a sign of a lack of ambition; for others, a reflection of the overwhelming pressure that has been a constant companion since her Flushing Meadows fairytale.
Meanwhile, Kartal's journey offers a compelling counter-narrative. The 22-year-old from Brighton, who has battled through significant injury setbacks, has enjoyed a phenomenal 2024, catapulting herself up the world rankings and making a memorable main-draw debut at Wimbledon. Her story is not one of instant, stratospheric fame, but of grit, perseverance, and a steady climb through the challenging terrain of the ITF circuit.
The Weight of a Decade-Short Comment
Raducanu's ten-word philosophy, uttered in the mixed zone after a match, became an unexpected flashpoint. In the context of her career, every word is now parsed for hidden meaning. Is she happy? Is she still motivated? Is she managing the physical demands of the tour? Her comment, "taking it tournament by tournament," was interpreted as:
- A pragmatic approach to managing a body that has been beset by injuries.
- A psychological shield against the relentless scrutiny of her every performance.
- A potential indicator of waning long-term ambition.
This microscopic analysis is the reality for Raducanu. A former British No. 1 noted anonymously, "For Emma, nothing is just a comment anymore. It's a headline. That's the burden of her unique success."
Sonay Kartal: The Steady Ascent
In stark contrast, Sonay Kartal's narrative is being written on the court, far from the intense media speculation. Her 2024 season has been a masterclass in consistent improvement and seizing opportunities. Having started the year ranked outside the world's top 250, a series of impressive results on the ITF World Tennis Tour propelled her to the cusp of the top 150.
Her breakthrough moment arrived at the All England Club. Coming through three rounds of qualifying, Kartal made her Wimbledon main-draw debut and did not stop there, securing a stunning first-round victory over29th seed Sorana Cîrstea. Although she fell in the second round to former finalist Jelena Ostapenko, her performance announced her as a serious prospect with a powerful baseline game and formidable mental strength.
Kartal's season is a testament to resilience. She has spoken openly about past struggles, including a debilitating foot injury that required surgery and kept her off the court for an extended period. Her current success is built on a foundation of patience and hard work. "I've had some really tough years," Kartal reflected recently. "There were times I wondered if I'd ever get back to this level. To be here now, winning matches at Wimbledon, makes all the struggles worthwhile."
By the Numbers: Kartal's 2024 Rise
The statistics behind Kartal's season tell a powerful story of progress:
- Achieved a career-high WTA ranking of World No. 147 in July 2024.
- Won three ITF W75 titles in consecutive weeks in April and May.
- Recorded her first main-draw victory at a Grand Slam at Wimbledon.
A Tale of Two Pressures
The juxtaposition of Raducanu and Kartal highlights the vastly different forms of pressure in professional tennis. Raducanu operates under the weight of global celebrity and the expectation to replicate a once-in-a-generation achievement. Every loss is framed as a "slump," every win as a "return to form." For Kartal, the pressure is different—it's the pressure to break through, to secure funding, to prove she belongs among the elite. It's a pressure of aspiration, rather than expectation.
This dynamic was subtly acknowledged by British Billie Jean King Cup captain, Anne Keothavong. While praising Raducanu's fighting spirit, she also made a point of highlighting the broader health of British women's tennis. "It's fantastic to see players like Sonay and others making their move on the tour," Keothavong said. "It creates a positive, competitive environment. Everyone is on their own journey, and it's important we support them all in their individual paths."
Looking Ahead: Separate Paths, Shared Goal
As the tennis tour moves towards the North American hard court season and the final Grand Slam of the year in New York, both players carry different kinds of momentum. Raducanu will continue to be the centre of attention, her every match and word dissected as she searches for consistency and a return to the top echelons of the game. Her "tournament by tournament" approach may well be the most sane strategy in an insane environment.
For Sonay Kartal, the goal is to build on her "brilliant season." The confidence gained from her Wimbledon run is invaluable. She now has the opportunity to compete in WTA-level events more regularly and will aim to accumulate ranking points to secure direct entry into the Australian Open main draw in January 2025. Her journey is one of upward trajectory, fueled by proven results rather than past glory.
In the end, the ten-word comment from Emma Raducanu and the silent, powerful ascent of Sonay Kartal represent two sides of modern professional tennis. One is a story of managing fame and expectation, the other a story of earning recognition and opportunity. Both are valid, both are challenging, and both are currently defining the landscape of British women's tennis.