LONDON — British tennis star Sonay Kartal is turning to fans for inspiration as she plans her next tattoo following her historic run to the fourth round of Wimbledon. The 22-year-old, currently ranked British No. 3, revealed she wants to commemorate her breakthrough performance with permanent ink but is undecided on the design.
"I’ve been thinking about it since Wimbledon ended," Kartal told reporters during a post-tournament interview. "This was such a special moment in my career—I want something that captures it forever. But I’m terrible at making decisions, so I’m open to suggestions!" The Brighton-born player, who entered Wimbledon as a wildcard, became the first British woman since 1999 to reach the last 16 on her main-draw debut.
The Wimbledon Breakthrough
Kartal’s Cinderella story at SW19 included victories over 29th seed Sorana Cîrstea and France’s Clara Burel before falling to eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini. Her fearless baseline game and relentless energy won over crowds, with social media buzzing about her potential. Now, fans are eagerly weighing in on tattoo ideas, flooding her Instagram comments with designs ranging from tennis motifs to personal tributes.
"I’ve seen some really creative ones," Kartal admitted. "A few people suggested a rose for the Wimbledon logo, others want me to get ‘Believe’ inked—which was my mantra during matches. Someone even sent a sketch of a lioness because, apparently, I ‘roared’ on court!"
Fan Suggestions Flood In
The tattoo debate has sparked lively discussions online, with popular ideas including:
- A minimalist tennis racket with the date of her first Wimbledon win
- Coordinates of Centre Court
- The phrase "Wildcard Warrior" in script
- A strawberry (a nod to Wimbledon’s iconic dessert)
Sports psychologist Dr. Emma Ross praised Kartal’s approach, telling "Tattoos can be powerful markers of resilience. For athletes, they often symbolize pivotal moments—Sonay’s choice to involve fans makes it even more meaningful."
A History of Meaningful Ink
This won’t be Kartal’s first tattoo. She already sports a small arrow on her wrist ("to remind me to keep moving forward") and her grandparents’ initials. "Family’s everything to me," she said. "My grandma cried when I showed her the initials—she thought it was the sweetest thing."
Fellow players have also chimed in. Emma Raducanu, who knows a thing or two about breakthrough runs, reportedly texted Kartal with a cheeky suggestion: "Get ‘GFW’—short for ‘Girl From Wimbledon.’"
The Decision Timeline
Kartal plans to finalize her design before the US Open, where she’ll make her Grand Slam main-draw debut. "I’ll probably combine a few ideas," she teased. "Maybe something with a racket, the date, and a hidden strawberry. Gotta keep it fun!"
Her coach, Nigel Sears, joked that he’d prefer she waits until after the season: "Just don’t get it on your playing arm—we need that swing loose!" But Kartal insists the timing is perfect. "This summer changed my life. Why wait?"
A Symbol of Greater Ambitions
Beyond the tattoo, Kartal’s Wimbledon run has reshaped her career trajectory. She’s now eyeing a top-100 ranking by year-end and hopes to inspire more young British players. "If my story—or my ink—makes one kid pick up a racket, that’s the real win," she said.
As for the tattoo artist? Kartal plans to visit London’s renowned "Bang Bang" studio, where stars like Rihanna and Justin Bieber got inked. "Go big or go home, right?" she laughed.
Fans can vote on their favorite design via Kartal’s Instagram poll this weekend. One thing’s certain: whatever she chooses, it’ll be a permanent reminder of the summer she announced herself to the tennis world.