Sonay Kartal is known for her strong physiqueSonay Kartal hopes to inspire the next generation of athletes when she continues her Wimbledon campaign on Sunday, making her Centre Court debut. The British No.3 is through to the second week of a Major for the first time in her career and faces former world No.11 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a spot in the quarters. After learning she would open Centre Court, Kartal, 23, said: “It’s a huge honour to play on that court. A court that you dream of. As a kid, you want to play on it.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTStay up-to-date with the latest Tennis news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy PolicySuper-strong Kartal, who stands at just 5 ft and 4” tall, is known for her muscular physique. But she wasn’t always into fitness. The Brighton-based star said: “I wasn't always strong. Yeah, I used to hate fitness back in the day. Lockdown happened, I nothing to do, I turned to it as a bit of an escape, as something to do for a bit of fun. “Yeah, I was speaking to my fitness coach. We were just trying to get creative. I obviously didn't have crazy weights or anything. So it was just for running or trying to do bodyweight stuff and things like that, and it just completely changed the way I viewed it. I absolutely loved it. I took it as a bit of like an escape, so then when tennis started to kick back in, it was not a chore at all, I loved it and I'd go to the gym and just kind of have a bit of me time and stick my headphones in and just forget about the world, I guess, and listen to music.” However, Kartal may have to give up her membership to a high-street budget gym after her Wimbledon run.Sonay Kartal is fighting for a spot in her first Grand Slam quarter-finalThe world No.51 added: “It was getting a bit tricky prior, so I do think I'll have to move. But they were actually pretty respectful there, they would just say hello and then let me get on with it. So maybe I’ll have to test that when I'm back.” And Kartal wants girls to feel confident being strong. She added: “I think it's changing, now a lot of girls are getting more comfortable with having more muscle on their body, which is incredible. “I don't think anyone should feel like girls have to look a certain way, that's changing in tennis as well. You look at the tennis players, everyone's all different physiques and sizes and heights. So, it's definitely getting more versatile, but, I mean, if I can inspire kids, whether that's boys, girls, whatever, then I'm obviously doing something good.” Three children she hopes to inspire are her nieces and nephew, aged nine, six and four, who have been watching her from afar, and could come to SW19 on Sunday. Kartal, 23, said: “Their school has been really sweet, they've set up projectors in their classrooms so they’ve all been watching it and all the kids have done posters.SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy“My sister's kids aren't the sportiest, but I'm trying to get them into it. I don't think they're going to be the next best tennis player, but if I can get them into some sport, whatever that is, I think that will help them massively.” Kartal’s long-time coach, former British No.1 Julie Hobbs, was responsible for keeping her in tennis when she quite literally almost fell at the first hurdle. Now, the British No.3 wants to be the motivating figure for the next generation. “At my club, we used to do this thing where the younger kids used to call it the lines game, it’s like a little warm-up,” she explained. “You know, they'd shout ‘service line;, and all the kids had to run the service line and things like that, and that was always the first game and I was too shy for like three months to actually come on court. “So my coach Julie finally managed to get me to do it, that game, I went on court, I tried to run to, like, outside tram line, tripped over, burst into tears, off I went and yeah, didn't come back for a good couple of months.” To be the first to receive the latest Wimbledon news, join our WhatsApp community or Wimbledon newsletter
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