“It’s obvious Andre Agassi’s smart” – Aryna Sabalenka reveals American legend’s valuable advice has been paying off at Indian Wells
The hierarchy of British women’s tennis is in flux, with Emma Raducanu’s position as the nation’s second-best player under serious threat. Raducanu, the twenty-two-year-old sensation, is poised for a ranking decline following her early exit at Indian Wells, while her longtime rival, Sonay Kartal, is rapidly closing the gap with a stellar performance at the same tournament.
Kartal, currently ranked third among British women, secured her spot at Indian Wells as a “lucky loser” after failing to qualify. However, she has seized the opportunity, advancing to the round of sixteen with a victory over Polina Kudermetova. This latest triumph has placed her just fourteen points behind Raducanu in the live rankings.
Raducanu’s meteoric rise to prominence was highlighted by her stunning 2021 US Open victory as a teenage qualifier. This achievement made her the first British woman to win a Major title since 1977 and propelled her to the top of the national rankings. However, a series of unfortunate events, including three surgeries, led to Raducanu relinquishing her top spot in 2023. Now, her second position is under siege by the surging Kartal.
The twenty-three-year-old Kartal, a former junior national tournament competitor of Raducanu, appears determined to climb the ranks. She capitalized on her “lucky loser” entry at Indian Wells, securing a career-defining victory over world number seventeen Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round, followed by a 7-5, 6-3 win against Polina Kudermetova.
Kartal’s consistent performance has provisionally elevated her to number sixty-three in the global rankings, while Raducanu is projected to drop to around number sixty. Kartal’s current ranking points total 993, compared to Raducanu’s 1007. This gap could further diminish, or even reverse, depending on the results of other players.
Despite facing a daunting round-of-sixteen match against world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Kartal is demonstrating unwavering momentum. If she advances to the quarter-finals, her ranking points will increase to 1088, officially surpassing Raducanu.
Raducanu will have the opportunity to accrue points at the Miami Open next week. However, she will also be defending 108 points in Stuttgart in early April, where she reached the quarter-finals last year. In contrast, Kartal, who took a break from the sport due to health issues, has no points to defend until April.
Kartal’s strategy may involve participating in lower-tier tournaments and securing victories, which could potentially enable her to surpass Raducanu and claim the title of Britain’s second-best female player. However, her immediate focus is on her upcoming match against Sabalenka. The British tennis landscape is on the verge of a significant shift, and the world is watching with keen interest.
