It was a harsh day for British tennis fans in New York as Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Fran Jones, and Billy Harris all bowed out of the US Open.
The departures marked the biggest British exodus from Flushing Meadows in decades, leaving the spotlight on the remaining hopefuls Emma Raducanu, Jack Draper, and Cam Norrie, who advanced to the second round.
Jacob Fearnley tried to prevent a day-three whitewash for the Brits, but the odds were stacked against him.
Sonay Kartal’s Battle With Cramp
Among the underdogs, 23-year-old Sonay Kartal seemed to have the best chance.
She even took the second set against Brazilian No.18 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, giving fans hope that an upset was on the cards.
But cramp soon took hold, leaving Kartal struggling physically as she eventually lost 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.
Kartal didn’t hold back about the pain: “Where wasn’t cramping? Calves, quads, hamstrings, and fingers,” she admitted.
Despite trying salt and other remedies, her body simply couldn’t respond. “I wasn’t thinking about her.
I was just thinking: ‘I’m gonna finish the match. I’m not gonna quit.’”
Even Haddad Maia experienced cramp late in the match, adding an almost farcical twist to the final set.
Crowd Controversy
Kartal also pointed out that the Brazilian fans’ behaviour at times crossed the line.
“Tennis etiquette: if I double fault, you’re not supposed to start cheering and chanting her name,” she said.
The constant noise, especially during crucial points, added to her frustration on the court.
Katie Boulter Struggles With Serve
Earlier, Katie Boulter fell 6-4, 6-4 to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
Eight double faults and four breaks of serve highlighted her difficulties.
Boulter admitted she might follow the lead of top players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff by bringing in a specialist coach to refine her serve. “There are no egos in my team,” she said.
“They’d be open to having someone come in and help with the serve.”
Fran Jones and Billy Harris Exit
Fran Jones put up a fight in the second set but couldn’t overcome German Eva Lys, losing 6-0, 7-5.
Meanwhile, Billy Harris had three second-set points against Canadian No.25 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime but ultimately fell 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.
Looking Ahead
Despite the tough day, Britain still has hope in Emma Raducanu and Cam Norrie, who are back in action today, and Jack Draper, who plays tomorrow.
Fans will be watching closely to see if any of them can carry the flag forward after a challenging start for the rest of the team.
