July 8th 2024.
Rafael Nadal made the difficult decision to skip Wimbledon this year in order to fully focus on the upcoming Olympics. This decision had a ripple effect that extended beyond his own career, as it ended up inspiring a young tennis player named Sonay Kartal to have a dreamy run at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
Kartal's impressive performance caught the attention of renowned tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who is known for his expertise in women's tennis and for coaching the legendary Serena Williams for a decade. After watching Kartal in action against the second-seeded Coco Gauff, Mouratoglou became a huge fan of the British player.
Despite being ranked No. 298 in the world, Kartal stunned everyone by defeating Clara Burel and becoming Britain's first female qualifier to reach the third round in 24 years. She then went on to impress in her match against Gauff, who is ranked 296 places above her.
Kartal's sudden rise in the tennis world can be attributed to her physical transformation, which was inspired by Nadal's intense approach to the game. This insight was shared by Mouratoglou, who believes that Kartal's decision to bulk-up in training was a key factor in her success.
When asked about Kartal's defeat in the second set against Gauff, Mouratoglou jokingly said that it was probably better that he didn't see it, referring to the score rather than Kartal's performance. He did, however, acknowledge her impressive effort in the first set, especially in breaking back against such a formidable opponent.
Mouratoglou also highlighted the pressure that Kartal faced as a British player playing at Wimbledon for the first time. He commended her for handling the emotional aspect of the game well and praised her energy and intensity. He believes that Kartal has a bright future ahead of her in the world of tennis.
In terms of her physicality, Mouratoglou explained that players like Kartal who have a high level of intensity in their game, tend to build their bodies in a certain way. He used Nadal as an example, stating that his intense approach to the game has helped him build his body in a specific way. This is why Kartal puts in so much effort in the gym every day, in order to maintain her level of intensity on the court.
Despite her loss to Gauff, Kartal received praise from her opponent for her high level of play and for not giving her much to work with. Gauff also expressed her hope that Kartal will continue to compete in the future, as she believes the young British player has a lot of potential.
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