British Qualifier Sonay Kartal Wins First Career Title at 2024 Jasmin Open
Kartal prevailed against Rebecca Šramková of Slovakia in the final.
In a battle between first-time finalists, Sonay Kartal of the United Kingdom, 22, defeated Rebecca Šramková of Slovakia, 27, to win the Women’s Singles title at the 2024 Jasmin Open in Monastir, Tunisia (a WTA 250 event). The score in the final was 6-3 and 7-5 in favor of Kartal.
This was the first match Kartal and Šramková have ever played against each other on the WTA Tour. Both were competing today to become the eighth player to win her first WTA title during the 2024 season and the first from their respective countries. That means Kartal’s maiden title came from a hard court event at the 250-level. Moreover, she becomes the first player representing the United Kingdom to win the title in Monastir since the event joined the tour in 2022.
Heading into this tournament, Šramková was ranked as the Number 136 tennis player on the 2024 WTA Tour, while Kartal carried the Number 151 designation. By winning in Monastir, Kartal has received 250 points in the overall rankings - resulting in her Top 100 debut. Meanwhile, Šramková has picked up 163 points.
Elise Mertens of Belgium (No. 32) was the tournament’s two-time reigning champion. This year though, she lost against Eva Lys of Germany (No. 126) during the second round. Meanwhile, Šramková entered the main draw with an unseeded slot and Kartal made it through the qualifying round first.
Kartal arrived in the final after winning against Ranim Rassil of Tunisia (No. 959), Mariam Bolkvadze of Georgia (No. 236), fifth seed Jaqueline Cristian of Romania (No. 74), Mai Hontama of Japan (No. 109), qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine (No. 130), and Lys.
In the other half of the main draw, Šramková defeated qualifier Elsa Jacquemot of France (No. 142), second seed Clara Burel of France (No. 58), Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain (No. 115), and seventh seed Lucia Bronzetti of Italy (No. 86).
The revised rankings for the 2024 WTA Tour will be officially released on Monday, September 16. The tour will then play two tournaments from September 16-22: the Korea Open in Seoul, South Korea (a WTA 500 event) and the Thailand Open in Hua Hin, Thailand (a WTA 250 event). Both competitions will be played on hard courts.
Jessica Pegula of the United States (No. 3) is the reigning champion at the Korea Open. She has decided not to compete anywhere this week. Elsewhere, Diana Shnaider of Russia (No. 17) is the reigning champion at the Thailand Open when the event was last held in January 2024. She has opted to compete in Seoul instead. However, Šramková has entered the main draw of the Thailand Open with an unseeded slot. She is currently scheduled to play qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand (No. 188) in the first round. And finally, Kartal isn't playing at either competition.