\n<\/p>\n
Kartal was riding the crest of a wave in the early part of the season, having broken into the world’s top 50, reached two WTA quarter-finals and recorded notable wins over top-class opponents.<\/p>\n
Victories over 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys and former world number eight Emma Navarro in Indian Wells led to a meeting with now world number one Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.<\/p>\n
However, Kartal was forced to retire with the back injury which proved more serious than first thought.<\/p>\n
After initially hoping she would make a quick recovery, the pain left Kartal unable to brush her teeth without “being in agony” and led to some difficult decisions.<\/p>\n
Missing Wimbledon was a particularly tough choice, especially given she reached the fourth round of her home Grand Slam in 2025, but resigning herself to the fact she could not rush a comeback has proved to be a wise decision.<\/p>\n
Her first match back a little over three weeks ago – representing Great Britain at the BJK Cup – ended in a narrow defeat, before she won two matches to reach the Beijing third round in her WTA Tour return.<\/p>\n
“At the BJK Cup, the level I produced was much higher than I thought and I left super happy,” Kartal said.<\/p>\n
“Now I’m growing in confidence with every match I’m playing.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n