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Kartal's outstanding surprise performance at the WTA Beijing event concluded as she faced defeat to her Czech opponent, who delivered a brilliant match to secure a straightforward 6-3, 6-4 victory and progress to the last four.

Most Significant Competition for The British Player

The loss concludes of what had been the biggest competition of Sonay's professional journey, with the young British competitor demonstrating through a series of excellent displays that she holds the game to challenge the top players.

Kartal's path included a superb three-set victory over the world No. 5, which marked her first victory against a top-ten competitor and earned her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal spot.

The Czech's Commanding Performance

The contest provided an opportunity for Sonay to continue her notable run, but the Czech talent showed why she is highly regarded as a promising player.

The 27th-ranked displayed her precise and devastating shot production abilities from the outset, controlling baseline exchanges with strong hits from forehand and backhand, confidently approaching the net and asserting her strategy throughout the match.

Sonay's Solid Effort

Despite dropping the initial set in relatively routine manner, Kartal had performed well at all, which further emphasized the challenge she encounters when competing at the highest level.

She counterpunched effectively, maintaining consistency and exhibiting her versatility with sliced backhand strokes and multiple impressive passing shots.

Additionally sought opportunities to be aggressive with her heavy forehand, but she could only do so much against an confident opponent who could create higher ball speed and power.

Final Set Contest

Sonay sustained her consistent level in the following set and took advantage when her opponent's level briefly dipped, earning an service break in the final set.

Yet, after dropping her initial service game, the Czech player established a commanding flow, allowing just two service points for the rest of the set.

She landed on 79% of her opening serves and delivered multiple aces, with her assurance behind the serve carrying over to all other areas of her game as she dominated her opponent in the final stages to reach the biggest final four of her early career.

Competition Situation

The Czech player will be the sole international competitor in the China Open semi-finals, preparing for the winner of the quarterfinal between Pegula and Navarro.

In the second semi-final, Coco Gauff and Anisimova will renew their rivalry from the junior circuit.

Positive Developments for Kartal

Despite the loss, Kartal will leave Beijing having taken several improvements in her career.

Following ascending as high as 44th in the WTA rankings earlier this year, the expiration of points from her maiden WTA title in Monastir had caused her drop to as low as No. 82 last month.

With this performance, she will recover to 60th and surpass Jones and Katie Boulter to become the British No. 2.

Career Potential

The effect this tournament will have on her self-confidence and how she is perceived by the tennis community is even more notable.

Considering her modest 164cm height, Sonay will always be vulnerable against strong ball strikers like her Czech opponent, who can easily outhit her on their strong performances.

Yet, she is also proving that her rivals must work for their successes and perform at a sufficiently high level to beat her.

With her outstanding fitness, her precise and powerful forehand, her diversity of shots and her composure in challenging moments, the British player has multiple weapons in her toolbox to trouble high-level opposition.

With a few weeks left in the tennis season, her next task is to sustain this high level until the finish.