"On these courts I do feel I can beat anyone on any given day" - British talent Sonay Kartal breaks new ground in California after taking down Madison Keys

Sonay Kartal once again delivers her best game on the big stage. The British number two has shrugged off recent inconsistent form to sit on the cusp of a second WTA 1000 quarterfinal after taking down former Australian Open champion Madison Keys 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 at Indian Wells.

While not in the best physical condition, Kartal labelled herself as a 'fighter' after picking up another tremendous victory. The match did not start favourably for her. Keys is a world-class operator, and despite recent injury troubles costing her some ground to the runaway leaders at the top, the American can blow away opposition if not careful.

That seemed likely in the first set when the 31-year-old edged in front after a plethora of breaks before crucially picking up another one in a mammoth game to move 5-2 in front. More faff from last year's semi-finalist, who took her fourth set point and had the upper hand.

This was not to be for long, as a charging Kartal raced back into it. It took less than 30 minutes to draw level in a game she was in total command of. She firmly had the momentum on her side of the court and utilised it to good effect. After missing what seemed like a huge opening on the Keys serve earlier in the set, she left it late to snatch the break needed to storm to glory. In emphatic fashion, Kartal held to love and secured her spot in the fourth round of Indian Wells for the second time, becoming the first British woman to do so in California.

"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. She had previously been forced to take a medical timeout against Emma Navarro but soldiered on to take down two former top 10 players. "On these courts I do feel I can beat anyone on any given day," she continued, brimming with confidence and self-belief.

Last year was a breakthrough year for Kartal. She reached a career-high 44th in the world after many solid showings. She won her maiden WTA title back in 2024 at the Jasmin Open in Tunisia, beginning a rise up the rankings and more of the spotlight on her from a British tennis perspective.

A fourth-round run at Wimbledon showcased her grit and determination on court, not to mention the class within. This was again shown at the China Open, where she went on a glorious run to the last-eight, defeating Mirra Andreeva for a first top 10 win enroute before losing out to eventual finalist Linda Noskova.

While there has been some inconsistency this year, Kartal at her best is a force to be reckoned with. She has reached two quarterfinals, the first coming in the ASB Classic, where Elina Svitolina had to fight hard to come out on top. Then it was the Abu Dhabi Open, where fellow qualifier Sara Bejlek dropped just two games against a deflated Kartal.

Prior to Indian Wells, she had failed to qualify for Dubai. Now down to world number 54, she was in danger of tumbling further if not for a deep run. It started promisingly with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Lanlana Tararundee before overcoming that forementioned back injury to take down the 20th seed Navarro. She survived a match point enroute to this triumph, setting up a tie against Keys for the second time following their battle at Wimbledon in 2023.

This time, Kartal left the court as the victor, with bigger things on the horizon. Back in the fourth round at Indian Wells, she will have to play her absolute best game and then some if she is going to make a second WTA 1000 quarterfinal. The Australian Open champion, Elena Rybakina, is next on the list, but that may not be the first thing on her mind with her back still causing her grief.

"It [the back] was a pretty big hindrance," Kartal added. I didn't really practise yesterday so I gave it as much recovery as I could, so I think now it's about getting recovered and doing the same exact thing to get back on the court in the next couple of days."

Recovery will be key if she can seal a second top 10 win and cause another seismic upset in the Californian desert.