Sonay Kartal: Briton reaches first WTA final at Jasmin Open

Britain’s Sonay Kartal is set for a new career-high ranking after reaching her first final on the WTA Tour.

The 22-year-old qualifier will face Slovakia’s world number 136 Rebecca Sramkova in the final of the Jasmin Open in Tunisia on Sunday.

Kartal was leading 5-1 in Saturday’s semi-final against Eva Lys when the German retired ill.

“I’m sure tomorrow we’ll both come out here, you know, shoulders are going to be a bit heavy, we’re both going to be a bit nervous,” said Kartal, with 27-year-old Sramkova also a first-time finalist.

“But ultimately it will be who can put on the best performance on the biggest stage.”

Kartal, who is rankled 151 in the world, had never reached the last eight of a WTA tournament before this week, but has not dropped a set since the opening round.

The British number four beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in the quarters, avenging her defeat to the Ukrainian in the final round of US Open qualifying, just a few weeks ago.

Brighton’s Kartal also reached the third round of Wimbledon earlier this year and her run in Monastir means she will now move inside the world’s top 120.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Francesca Jones won the opening set against Swiss player Jil Teichmann in the semi-final of a WTA 125 event in Ljubljana, Slovenia, before going down 6-2 4-6 1-6.