Brave Sonay goes down swinging against World Number 2 Coco Gauff

It was a miracle too far. In front of a packed Number One court Sonay Kartal lost to the World Number Two Coco Gauff 6- 4 6-0. But just for a moment at the end of the first set the impossible seemed possible. Sonay had fought back from a slow start firing forehands and backhands to unsettle the hard hitting young American.

Ultimately Gauff was too strong and experienced and after sealing the first set with a searing backhand winner down the line, she grew in confidence and proved too strong for Sonay in the second set.

But what a ride, what a journey for Sonay and her coaches Ben Reeves and Julie Hobbs. She has now risen from 287 in the world to be in the World’s top two hundred. She captured the attention of the British media and made us all so proud that Pav & Ave had produced such a tennis star.

How far will Sonay go now that she knows she belongs on the same stage as the World’s best? And how many more champion tennis players can Pav & Ave produce?