'It's been a dream week so far' - Kartal after reaching first WTA 1000 SF of her career

Yeah, this week has kind of been the dream week so far. To do it after having six months out is a pretty proud moment, I think, for me and the rest of my team. So, yeah, I just want to keep going at this point. And, yeah, to be honest, I think it's a surprise to a lot of people that I've managed to bring this level. I think it's a better level than when I left off at. So it's very encouraging. And, yeah, I'm excited to kind of see where the rest of this week goes and the remainder of the season. You know, I think I won the first set, I think, pretty comfortably, but I knew I was never safe at all in that until the last point was played. She's an unbelievable fighter, and regardless of the emotion that she's showing her end or not, I knew that that was never going to get to her. And, you know, I knew she was going to bring the level at some point. I think she did start a little bit slow. I always expected her to pick up at some point in the match. And, yeah, that third set was just, it was tough. I think it was neck and neck, and I just had to keep focused and just forget the scoreboard, forget the occasion and just play at one point at a time. I think both the times we've played each other has been on grass. So obviously a very different surface to here. And she's been playing great this week. I've seen her a few matches. So I'm expecting another tough battle. I think it's going to be a different ball from her than I've not received in the past few matches. So it's going to be a different match-up. But I think we both know how each other plays probably. and yeah I'm expecting another battle and if it needs to go all the way then I'll be ready to do that