This video can not be played Defending champion Boulter beats fellow Brit Kartal to reach Nottingham Open last eight Katie Boulter had to dig deep to beat Sonay Kartal in an all-British tie and keep her bid for a third straight Nottingham Open title on track. Boulter trailed in the deciding set and almost went a double break down before regrouping to win 6-4 1-6 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals. Eighth seed Boulter also called for the doctor during the match after struggling with the hot weather. "I am definitely proper British because I can't handle the heat at all," the 28-year-old said. "I'm just glad I got over the line." Boulter is on a 12-match winning streak in Nottingham, having won her first WTA Tour title in the city two years ago. The Englishwoman will now face American McCartney Kessler for a place in the last four. "I feel like I step into my house when I come on to this court. I have such great vibes here," Boulter said. Boulter is the last Briton in the women's singles after Welsh teenager Mimi Xu was beaten by Poland's Magda Linette earlier on Thursday World number 39 Boulter said before the match that she expected Kartal, who is just 11 places behind her in the rankings, would surpass her at some point. Boulter started strongly, breaking Kartal for a 5-4 lead before serving out the opening set, but her opponent reeled off five games in a row on her way to taking the second. Boulter quickly found herself trailing in the third set and Kartal had a break point for a 5-2 lead. But Boulter rallied, first holding serve, then breaking for 4-4 and breaking again as Kartal served to force a tie-break. "I have so much respect for Sonay, she is such a tough competitor," Boulter said. "I just wanted to grit my teeth as hard as I could and get myself over the line."
Boulter passes Kartal test to reach Nottingham quarters
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"Katie Boulter Overcomes Sonay Kartal to Advance in Nottingham Open"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Defending champion Katie Boulter faced a challenging match against fellow Brit Sonay Kartal in the Nottingham Open, ultimately securing her place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought victory. Boulter, the eighth seed, initially took control of the match, winning the first set 6-4 after breaking Kartal's serve. However, the match took a turn in the second set as Kartal rallied, winning five consecutive games to take the set 6-1. The decisive third set saw Boulter fall behind early, facing a potential double break. Despite the pressure, she managed to regroup and fought back, ultimately winning the set 7-5. Boulter, who has now extended her winning streak to 12 matches in Nottingham, expressed her relief and determination, stating, "I'm just glad I got over the line" after calling for a doctor due to the heat during the match.
With this victory, Boulter remains the last British player in the women's singles draw after the earlier elimination of Welsh teenager Mimi Xu. Boulter's next challenge will be against American McCartney Kessler as she aims for her third consecutive title in Nottingham. Reflecting on the match, Boulter acknowledged the competitiveness of Kartal, who is ranked just 11 places below her, and emphasized her respect for her opponent, saying, "I have so much respect for Sonay, she is such a tough competitor." Boulter's connection to the Nottingham courts is evident in her comments about feeling at home, as she continues her pursuit of success in a city where she won her first WTA Tour title two years ago.
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