British tennis star Sonay Kartal delivered a brutally honest assessment of her game after crashing out in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday 20 January 2026, labelling it her worst performance in years.
A Disappointing Defeat in Melbourne
The British No 2, currently ranked 66th in the world, was defeated by the 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets, 7-6 (3) 6-1. While losing to a seeded player carried no particular shame, it was the manner of the loss that left the 24-year-old Brighton player deeply frustrated.
Kartal had arrived in Melbourne with some confidence, following a narrow and encouraging loss to former world number three Elina Svitolina in Auckland just prior to the Grand Slam. That performance had seemingly continued the positive momentum she built at the tail end of the previous season.
Match Analysis: A Promising Start Fades
Initially, the match seemed to be going Kartal's way. She managed to gain the upper hand in the early stages, but her strategy ultimately proved flawed. She relied too heavily on her Russian opponent making errors, a tactic that unravelled as Kalinskaya found her rhythm.
The crucial turning point was a poorly played tie-break, which handed Kalinskaya the first set. Any hopes of a British fightback evaporated rapidly in the second set, as Kalinskaya raced to a commanding 5-0 lead before sealing the match 6-1.
Kartal's Frank Post-Match Reaction
"Obviously very disappointed," said Kartal, who is still searching for her first main-draw victory at the Australian Open. "For me, it was not my finest at all, even my base level was not really there today, which is something I rely on."
She added with clear regret: "I think, if I could go back out there now and play that match again, I'd play it a completely different way."
Kartal acknowledged that Kalinskaya may have raised her level but was more critical of her own dramatic dip in form. "Maybe she did raise her level but my level dipped to a level that hasn't been that low for years, probably," she stated.
The contrast between her preparation and performance was particularly galling. "I ended last year feeling good and feel like I was training well. The warm-up this morning, I was playing well," Kartal explained. "I'm super disappointed, especially after Auckland."
However, showing resilience, she concluded by looking ahead: "It's a long old season ahead so I'm not going to look too deep into this."
