GBs Kartal continues dream Indian Wells run

Sonay Kartal is competing in her first WTA 1,000 event

Sonay Kartals dream run at Indian Wells continued as the British lucky loser beat Polina Kudermetova to reach the fourth round.

Kartal had checked out her hotel after losing in the final round of qualifying - but the world number 83 earned a spot in the main draw after the withdrawal of Sloane Stephens.

She changed hotels, external, claimed the biggest win of her career in round three and then beat Russias Kudermetova 7-5 6-3 to reach the fourth round of a WTA 1,000 event for the first time.

A possible meeting with world number one Aryna Sabalenka awaits, should the three-time major champion beat Italys Lucia Bronzetti later on Monday.

Regardless of that result, Kartal will move to a career-high in the rankings at the end of the hard-court tournament.

A higher ranking will help her secure direct entry to the big tournaments outside of the four Grand Slams.

Kartal had a superb end to 2024, winning her first WTA Tour title and breaking into the worlds top 100.

It came after a difficult start to the year where the 23-year-old was "in and out of hospital" after a health scare.

After three months out, Kartal returned to the tour and steadily worked her way up the rankings before triumphing in Monastir in October.

She came back from an early break down against Kudermetova, winning three games in a row to take the first set, before taking advantage as her opponents shot-making grew ragged.

She will face a tough task against Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, who described herself as "hungrier on court" after losing in the Australian Open final in January.

Madison Keys, who beat Sabalenka in Melbourne to win her first major title, also progressed on Monday, beating Elise Mertens 6-2 6-7 (8-10) 6-4.

American Keys has yet to lose a match this year and will face either compatriot Emma Navarro or Donna Vekic for a place in the quarter-finals.