'You feel helpless' - Kartal limps to US Open defeat

US Open 2025

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September

Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website & app

Britain's Sonay Kartal felt "helpless" as she was knocked out of the US Open shortly after Katie Boulter also exited the first round.

Kartal suffered with debilitating cramp in a 6-3 1-6 6-1 defeat against Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Boulter, 29, lost 6-4 6-4 to Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk as she was unable to turn around her Grand Slam struggles.

"It was tough. I've never lost a match from cramp before ever – it was a little bit odd for me," said 23-year-old Kartal, who was making her New York main-draw debut.

A bizarre deciding set saw a limping Kartal trail 3-0 before being handed a lifeline when Haddad Maia's movement also became hampered by cramping.

Points became slow and laboured in testing conditions - but both players refused to give in.

Haddad Maia lost serve for 3-1 as she could barely walk but recovered sufficiently, helped by the vocal support of a boisterous set of Brazilian fans, to serve out a remarkable victory.

Asked where the cramps were affecting her, Kartal replied: "Where wasn't I feeling it? Calves, quads, hamstrings and my fingers on the racquet."

Kartal has struggled with a knee injury in recent months, wearing strapping on her right leg during a memorable run to the Wimbledon last 16, but said it did not contribute to her physical problems.

The British number three also believes the hotter conditions at Flushing Meadows were not a significant factor, nor were any pre-match nerves before her main-draw debut.

Speaking shortly after the match, she said she suspected it was down to her intake of salts and electrolytes.

Taking on a replenishing mineral drink - which she said "didn't taste nice" - during the deciding set alleviated the issue.

"I think I've fuelled well over the past few days – kept hydrated – but I will have to analyse everything I ate and drank and see if I need to make changes," said Kartal, who is ranked 51st in the world.

"When everything is locking out and you have to peel your thumb off the racquet to let go, it is tough.

"You feel helpless on court. My body didn't let me finish it how I wanted to feel it."

This time last year, Boutler was a seeded player at Flushing Meadows but is now in danger of slipping out of the world's top 50 after a difficult season.

The powerful baseliner has never reached the second week of a major and seemed to lack confidence at times against Kostyuk - seemingly systematic of her lack of her form.

Despite only winning once in her past eight matches, Boulter said she had regained her "buzz".

Boulter believed she had found a new perspective after taking "days off away from the sport" following the Canadian Open last month.

"You can look at the results and think 'she's having a tough time', but I'm actually really excited," she said.

"I lost it a couple of weeks ago in Montreal and I'd say that is a pivotal moment in my career.

"It was a full reset in the middle of the US hard-court swing and I think I'm in a good place to move forward."

Saving five match points as she served at 5-3 illustrated how Boulter will not stop fighting and helped her create three break points in the 10th game.

However, Kostyuk recovered to serve out the match and move into the second round.

Boulter coped fine with the hotter conditions and put her struggles down to the tweaks she has been trying to make to her serve.

"I'm trying to find rhythm and don't fully commit to the serve I'm going for," added Boulter, who was broken four times.

"At this level, putting the serve in the court is not going to get it done.

"Otherwise, on the court, I matched Marta well and returned decently well. Considering my form it was a relatively competitive match."