Ink, Aces & Inspiration: Sonay Kartal Wants Help Picking Her Next Tattoo
Wimbledon hero Sonay Kartal reaches last 16 — and calls on fans for fresh tattoo ideas
Sonay Kartal is having the summer of her life at Wimbledon 2025 — but the British number three isn’t just focused on serves and cross-court winners. After storming into the fourth round with a composed 6-4, 6-2 win over France’s Diane Parry, the 23-year-old from Brighton is thinking about… her next tattoo.
Yes, you read that right. As the only Brit left standing in the women’s singles draw and now into the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, Kartal has turned to her fans for help in deciding her next piece of ink.
“I’m not one to say no to a tattoo,” she said with a grin after her latest win on Court 12. “I think I can easily be persuaded. I’m just lacking on a few creative ideas myself, so if people have any ideas let me know — and I’m sure I’ll definitely get one.”
More than just a moment – Kartal’s Wimbledon breakthrough
For Kartal, this isn’t just a quirky post-match headline. The 23-year-old has been on a remarkable journey over the past two seasons. She came into Wimbledon last year ranked outside the top 290 in the world and exited in the third round — a personal best at the time.
Fast forward twelve months, and she’s now firmly inside the world’s top 60 and on the brink of a Grand Slam quarter-final. A win on Sunday over seasoned campaigner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova would cement her place as Britain’s breakout star of the tournament — a mantle left vacant by the early exits of Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter.
While the tennis world buzzes with her rapid rise, Kartal herself remains grounded — using the occasion not just to reflect on the path she’s carved, but to consider how to commemorate it, quite literally, on her skin.
14 tattoos and counting – Kartal’s evolving personal canvas
Kartal is no stranger to body art. With 14 tattoos already inked across her arms and torso, each mark tells a story — from memories of major milestones to more private, introspective meanings.
Among them is a simple but significant “2022” — a permanent reminder of the year she played in all four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time in her career. It was a landmark season that laid the foundation for the form and belief she’s carried into this year’s Championships.
But even for someone with a growing collection of ink, the inspiration doesn’t always come easy.
“I’ve definitely got room for more,” she joked in her post-match press conference. “But the ideas are starting to dry up. No more clichéd strawberries or tennis rackets, please!”
Kartal, who describes her aesthetic as “minimal but meaningful,” says she’s open to a range of designs — from symbolic imagery to bold lettering — so long as it connects with her story and spirit.
Fans respond – from phoenixes to court lines
It didn’t take long for fans to rise to the challenge. Within hours of her interview hitting social media, the replies and comment threads were full of creative suggestions.
One popular idea? A small phoenix rising from a tennis ball — a symbol of rebirth and rising against the odds. Another fan suggested the outline of Centre Court, stylised in black ink with the match score from her third-round victory underneath.
There were suggestions for constellations to represent her star sign (she’s a Capricorn), lyrics from motivational songs, and even a line drawing of the London skyline with a racket forming the Shard.
A few cheekier fans offered their own artistic tributes, sketching cartoonish versions of her iconic fist pumps or her now-famous reaction to beating a top-20 opponent earlier in the tournament.
One follower summed it up perfectly: “Whatever she gets, it should scream Wimbledon warrior energy.”
Why this matters – tattoos as expression and empowerment
For many athletes, tattoos are more than aesthetics — they’re an extension of identity, of power, of control in a world where performance often dictates perception. For Kartal, it’s clear that ink has become part of how she processes growth, success, and struggle.
“It’s like journaling,” she’s said in past interviews. “Only instead of writing it down, I wear it.”
In the high-pressure world of professional tennis, where routines are strict and expectations high, body art can be a way to reclaim space — a visual declaration that says, this moment mattered. And for Kartal, whose path to the top hasn’t always followed the script, that means something.
She has spoken openly in the past about her battles with injuries and setbacks, including periods of doubt about whether she’d ever break into the elite ranks. Now, with Wimbledon 2025 offering a glittering breakthrough, she’s leaning into the joy — and wants her next tattoo to reflect that.
Next up: Pavlyuchenkova and a shot at history
Before any new ink is added, Kartal still has work to do on the lawns of SW19. Her next opponent, 33-year-old Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, will provide a stern test. A former French Open finalist and current world number 17, Pavlyuchenkova brings experience and composure to a match where Kartal will undoubtedly be the underdog.
But if this Wimbledon has shown anything, it’s that Kartal thrives in that role. “I’m not here just to enjoy the moment,” she said after her third-round win. “I want to win. Simple as that.”
Victory would place her in the quarter-finals of a major for the first time, and with the home crowd now fully behind her, anything feels possible.
So… what should Sonay Kartal get next?
With her personality shining as brightly as her tennis, the idea of fans helping choose her next tattoo just adds another layer to her growing appeal. It’s not just about racquets and rankings — it’s about connection, creativity, and celebrating the journey.
So if you’ve got a clever, meaningful, or simply beautiful idea for what Kartal should get inked next, speak up — she’s listening. But remember, it better be good.
Because this isn’t just any tattoo. It’s a tribute to a rising star on the biggest stage of all.
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