Sonay Kartal is a woman and a professional tennis player representing Great Britain on the WTA Tour. Her rise in recent years has sparked interest, including questions about her gender, but she has always competed as a female athlete.
Who is Sonay Kartal?
Sonay Kartal is a British tennis player born in London on October 28, 2001. She has competed in the women’s category throughout her career, rising through the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) system designed for female players. Her breakthrough came in 2024 when she reached the third round of Wimbledon and won her first WTA title in Monastir, marking her arrival on the international stage.
Kartal’s journey has not been straightforward. She overcame a significant layoff due to health issues early in 2024, returning stronger and more competitive. Her resilience and performance on grass courts have made her one of the most promising figures in British women’s tennis.
Why do people question her gender?
Some online searches ask about Sonay Kartal’s gender due to her powerful build and aggressive playing style, which challenge outdated stereotypes of female athletes. Others may be unfamiliar with her Turkish heritage and the name 'Sonay', which is gender-neutral in Turkey but primarily used for girls. In the UK, where the name is rare, this unfamiliarity can lead to confusion.
Her physical presence on court—marked by a heavy forehand and intense conditioning—reflects modern elite women’s tennis, where strength and athleticism are now standard. This evolution sometimes misleads casual viewers who expect a more traditional image of a female player.
Her development in British tennis
Kartal progressed through the LTA’s women’s development pathway, competing in junior girls’ events before moving to the ITF Women’s Circuit. She won 11 ITF singles titles before breaking into the WTA Tour. There has never been any regulatory or competitive ambiguity about her gender classification in tennis, which strictly separates male and female categories.
Her career trajectory follows a clear path: from national junior competitions to professional women’s tennis. The structure of international tennis ensures that athletes compete in categories aligned with their documented gender, and Kartal has always been in the women’s division.
Playing style and public perception
Kartal plays with a powerful, aggressive game built around a strong forehand and quick movement. This style, once considered atypical for women, is now common at the elite level. Her physicality is the result of rigorous training and recovery from injury, not a subject of debate.
When athletes return from long breaks looking more muscular or athletic, speculation sometimes arises online. In Kartal’s case, her improved conditioning after rehab has been mistaken by some as a reason to question her gender, despite no official or medical basis for such claims.
Representation and identity
Kartal’s background includes Turkish heritage from her father’s side, which explains her surname and first name. While 'Sonay' is uncommon in the UK, it is a known female name in Turkey. Her identity as a British woman of Turkish descent reflects the diversity of modern British sport.
She competes alongside other British female players like Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, forming part of a new generation reshaping perceptions of women’s tennis. Kartal’s success is rooted in perseverance, not spectacle, and her gender has never been a point of contention in professional circles.