“Madison Keys began strongly, but Kartal’s resilience shifted the momentum of the match”
Britain’s Sonay Kartal produced a stunning comeback victory over American star Madison Keys at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Keys started the match strongly and dominated the first set with powerful hitting and aggressive play. She controlled the rallies and broke Kartal’s serve to take the opening set 6–2, putting the American in a comfortable position early in the match.
However, Kartal responded brilliantly in the second set. The British player improved her movement and defense while extending rallies to frustrate Keys. Kartal broke serve several times and levelled the match by winning the second set 6–2.
The deciding set saw Kartal maintain her momentum. She stayed calm under pressure and secured another crucial break of serve before closing the match 6–3, completing an impressive comeback victory in nearly two hours.
The win is one of the biggest of Kartal’s career, as she defeated a top-seeded opponent and advanced to the Round of 16 of the tournament. She will next face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina as she looks to continue her strong run in Indian Wells.