Jodie Burrage Finds Perfect Remedy in Sonay Kartal Partnership After Wimbledon Setback
After an untimely ankle injury brought her Wimbledon singles campaign to a frustrating early end, Jodie Burrage has found the perfect lift in her doubles partnership with Sonay Kartal.
Burrage, who has already endured a difficult year recovering from injury, was hopeful for a deep run at SW19. But just days before her first-round exit against Caty McNally, a rolled ankle disrupted her plans. Despite the disappointment, Burrage didn’t have to wait long to bounce back.
Partnering with her close friend Sonay Kartal, she made a swift comeback to the court, bringing fresh determination and securing a gritty doubles triumph over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in a tense 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 battle.
“It really was exactly what I needed,” Burrage said after the match. “I woke up feeling completely off today. I tried to shake it off, but honestly, I was struggling. Getting back on court with Sonay really turned my day around.”
Their partnership isn’t just a tactical success — it’s a friendship that’s been building throughout the season. The pair have played doubles together in tournaments like Queen’s and Eastbourne, building trust and understanding on the court while supporting each other behind the scenes.
“Sonay and I have a great balance,” Burrage shared. “We’re really similar in life — same humour, same values — but on court, we’re total opposites. I get fired up, and Sonay keeps everything calm and cool. That’s probably why our partnership clicks so effortlessly. We balance each other out.”
Burrage, who is still managing her ankle injury, admitted that her physio wasn’t thrilled about the three-set battle but said the doubles format was less physically taxing than singles.
“The ankle’s not perfect, but it’s holding up. I’ll definitely need a few good weeks to heal properly, but for now, I’m just enjoying being out there with Sonay. Truly, having duplicates has completely changed the game. If I didn’t have this, I think today would have been a really tough one to get through.”
The duo’s bond goes beyond matches. Burrage was seen supporting Kartal during her singles preparation, even helping her warm up before her second-round win over Viktoriya Tomova.
Their growing partnership has caught attention at Wimbledon this year, adding an exciting dynamic to the British campaign.
“We’d love to keep this run going,” Burrage said with a smile. “We’ll give it everything we’ve got.”
Fans eager to follow Burrage and Sonay Kartal’s journey through the 2025 Wimbledon Championships can stay up to date with the latest matches and schedules by visiting the Wimbledon Championships 2025 schedule here.
As their story unfolds, it’s clear that sometimes, the best medicine in sport is simply having the right person by your side.
