‘Fighter’ Kartal stuns Keys in Indian Wells comebackImage source, ReutersImage caption, Kartal is the first British woman to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells twiceByEmily SalleyBBC Sport journalistPublished24 minutes agoBritain’s Sonay Kartal showed her “fighter” spirit as she battled back to stun former Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the third round at Indian Wells.American Keys, who won her first major at Melbourne Park in 2025, dominated the first set but Kartal rallied to complete a 2-6 6-2 6-3 turnaround in just under two hours.The British number two revealed she was still struggling with the back injury that had forced her to call a medical time out during her second-round match against Emma Navarro on Sunday, when she saved a match point en route to victory.
“At times in this match I was in discomfort with my back, so it’s a match like today which shows the fighter in me,” Kartal told BBC Sport after her win over Keys.
“On these courts I do feel I can beat anyone on any given day.”
Kartal’s run to the fourth round at Indian Wells last year, her debut at a WTA 1,000 tournament, helped kick-start a breakthrough season for the 24-year-old, who reached a career-high ranking of 44 in 2025.
With victory over 15th seed Keys, Kartal – now ranked 54th – becomes the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the California-based tournament twice.
