British Australian Open star ‘hasn’t been so low for years’ after gutting exit | Tennis | Sport

Sonay Kartal admitted that her level hadn’t dropped so low in “years” after losing to No. 31 seed Anna Kalinskaya in the first round of the Australian Open. The British No. 2 blew an early break lead and then fell away in the second set as Kalinskaya won 7-6(3) 6-1.

A former quarter-finalist in Melbourne, Kalinskaya looked frustrated at times in the opening set, and Kartal tried to take advantage. But the Brit thought she was too passive, waiting for the 31st seed to miss.

“Obviously, very disappointed, I think, for me, it was not my finest at all, even my base level was not really there today, which is something I kind of rely on, no matter what level I bring, I feel like my base level is always pretty consistent,” Kartal said.

“It’s obviously frustrating. I think if I could go back out there now and play that match again, I would play a completely different way. But I’ve got doubles tomorrow, so go back on the match court, get on the practice court. Win or lose tomorrow, I just want to feel like I’m playing clean again and feeling better on the ball tomorrow.

“I think the first set, I could obviously see she was struggling with her shots. I don’t think she found her rhythm in that first set, and I think I kind of relied on her to miss a little bit, and I think that was working, and even at the tiebreak was tight to a point.

“I think I definitely would have, for my own game developing, win or lose that set, I would have gone out there and played a much more attacking game, and I think the more passive games down in the second set, never really got going and never really kind of found my own rhythm.”

Kalinskaya needed over an hour to win the first set, but then ran away with the second, and world No. 66 Kartal explained: “I think my level got even worse, to be honest with you. I think that’s where I lost my base level.

“It was just not really fun on the court in that second set. So yeah, I think maybe she did raise her level, but I think ultimately, my level dipped to a level that hasn’t been that low for years, probably.”

It was a tough loss for Kartal, who looked strong in Auckland at the start of the season, reaching the quarter-finals before blowing a lead to lose to eventual champion Elina Svitolina. But she’s already looking ahead.

The Brighton-based star has been ranked as high as No. 44 in the world and wants to get back there, and then go even further. “By the summer, listen, I’d love to be in the top 50 again. I don’t think that’s too far away from where I’m currently sitting as well,” she added.

“So I think if I can have a good few weeks in the Middle East, I think that’s definitely doable. And I think the goal for me this year would be to be top 30, so I think if I can do that at any point of the year, that’s a big goal ticked off.”