Kartal Shines On Bjk Cup Debut To Give Gb Lead

Sonay Kartal impressed connected debut to springiness Great Britain a 1-0 lead complete Germany successful Billie Jean King Cup qualifying.

Kartal weathered nan big-hitting of an affectional Jule Niemeier to triumph 6-4 6-2 successful nan Netherlands.

World number 60 Kartal looked comfortable connected nan clay, moving good and often beating Niemeier successful exchanges from nan backmost of nan court.

British number 1 Katie Boulter will look to seal nan necktie for GB erstwhile she faces Tatjana Maria successful nan 2nd singles match, earlier Olivia Nicholls and Harriet Dart play Laura Siegemund and Anna-Lena Friedsam successful nan doubles.

Germany look an uphill conflict to suffice having mislaid 3-0 to nan Netherlands connected Thursday.

GB look nan Netherlands connected Saturday, pinch nan group winners advancing to September's eight-team finals.

Kartal watched GB's triumph against France successful past year's qualifiers from afar, having spent 3 months retired pinch a wellness issue.

However, she has risen up nan rankings successful nan past 12 months, clinching her first WTA title connected nan way.

A bully mover connected nan clay, she played confidently successful a first group that saw 7 breaks of service successful 10 games, adjusting good to Niemeier's pace.

Kartal served for nan opener astatine 5-3 but was broken, earlier 2 double faults from Niemeier handed nan Briton nan set.

Germany's Niemeier, heavy beaten against nan Netherlands and struggling for form, covered her look pinch her towel astatine nan extremity of nan group arsenic she became visibly upset.

Kartal reeled disconnected 5 games successful a statement to lead Niemeier by a group and a break, redirecting nan German's gait astir nan court, earlier serving retired victory.

"I'm ace proud of that debut match," Kartal said.

"It is evidently nerve-wracking erstwhile you're nan first lucifer on, but I'm proud of my performance."