The Mystery of Sonay Kartal's Vanishing Bodybuilder Boyfriend

By Lewis Barnett 6 July, 2025 6 mins read 38 Views

Okay, so here's the thing that's been bugging me about Wimbledon 2025.

Everyone's talking about Sonay Kartal absolutely demolishing former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in round one, then completely steamrolling Viktoriya Tomova to make it to round three for the second year running. The girl's got £152,000 in her pocket already, and if she beats French qualifier Diane Parry on Friday, she's looking at another £68k. Not bad for someone who used to travel to tournaments solo because she couldn't afford a coach.

But here's what nobody's talking about - where the hell is Luke Ogbourn?

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Remember Last Year's Flower Boy?

Back in 2024, this massive bodybuilder dude was everywhere during Sonay's Wimbledon run. I'm talking full romantic gesture mode - showing up with bouquets of flowers, posting soppy messages on Instagram, the whole nine yards. Luke Ogbourn, Britain's silver medalist at UK's Strongest Man U23 (then went and won gold at Iron Beasts 2024, because apparently lifting cars wasn't enough).

The guy was like a gentle giant cheerleader. Made for great photos too - this petite tennis ace next to this absolute unit of a human being who probably eats protein powder for breakfast.

What We Know About Luke (Or Knew...)

Luke's whole thing was strongman competitions and being Sonay's biggest fan. His Instagram used to be packed with gym routines, rugby matches, and videos of him deadlifting what looked like small cars. The relationship went public around November 2023, and honestly? They seemed pretty solid.

Sonay even talked about their different training styles in an interview with the Express back in 2024. She said they "don't gym together at all" because - and I'm paraphrasing here - she doesn't "lift cars and pull cars and things like that." Fair point. Tennis is about precision and agility; strongman is about... well, being strong as hell.

"Tennis is very specific training whereas he is just lifting as much weight as possibly as physically you can," she explained.

The Great Disappearing Act

Here's where it gets weird.

As of July 4, 2025, Luke's Instagram profile has vanished. Poof. Gone. Like it never existed. And more tellingly - he's nowhere to be seen at Wimbledon this year. No flowers, no supportive posts, no gentle giant lurking in the player's box.

All traces of their relationship have been scrubbed from social media. Which, let's be honest, is never a good sign.

From Kebab Shop to Centre Court

While we're trying to solve the mystery of the missing bodybuilder, let's talk about Sonay's actual journey. This girl's story is pretty incredible - born in London, raised in Brighton, Turkish heritage with a dad who owned both a kebab takeaway and a sit-down Turkish restaurant.

She went through some rough patches as a teenager. Injuries kept her off the court for years - she literally didn't pick up a racquet for a couple of years. Money was tight, so she'd travel to tournaments alone because hiring a coach week-in, week-out just wasn't financially feasible.

"When I was growing up, I kind of did quite a lot of tournaments on my own because I couldn't afford to pay a coach week-in, week-out," she said. "It helped me develop as a teenager, grow up super fast, made me much more mature."

The LTA eventually stepped in with support, and according to Sonay, the timing was perfect. "They really helped to give me all the equipment and access to everything I needed to develop as well. I've shot up the rankings. My game style really rocketed."

So... What Happened?

Look, I don't know what went down between Sonay and Luke. Maybe they're just keeping things private this year. Maybe they broke up. Maybe Luke's just busy lifting increasingly heavy objects somewhere.

What I do know is that Sonay's playing some of the best tennis of her career right now, and she's doing it without her former cheerleader in the stands.

Sometimes that's how it goes. People come into your life, support you through big moments, and then... they don't. Doesn't make the support any less real when it happened.

Either way, Sonay's got bigger things to focus on - like that match against Diane Parry and potentially adding another £68k to her bank account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What role plays video analysis in training top tennis athletes?

Video analysis is an essential tool in the training and development of top tennis players. It allows a detailed analysis of opponent patterns, technique, and match play. Coaches and athletes use video analysis to break down strokes, pinpoint improvement areas, and strategize with future opponents. It can also help to recognize habits and patterns that are often overlooked in the heat of competition. This allows for more effective and focused practice sessions.

What type of support team is needed by a top-level tennis player?

To compete at the highest level, a top tennis player requires a strong support team. The team will typically include a head trainer to oversee the training and technical development of the player, a fitness coach for physical conditioning and injury prevention, a medical professional or physiotherapist for injury management and prevention, a sports psychology specialist for mental coaching and a nutritionist for diet advice. A hitting partner, a manager or agent, and sometimes a stringer can also be part of the team, ensuring the player can solely focus on their game.

When should a football player start to train in order to become a professional?

While there is no set age to begin training for professional tennis, starting at a young age does provide an advantage. Many professional players begin training between the ages of 4 and 7. Early development is crucial for players to develop a solid base of skills, coordination, and technique. However, it's crucial to balance training with general childhood development to nurture a passion for the game without causing burnout or injury.

How can a player of tennis balance training and school requirements?

For aspiring tennis athletes, balancing intense training and academic commitments can be a challenge. This requires good time management skills, prioritization and creative scheduling. Online learning and flexible academic programmes can help young athletes accommodate their demanding training schedules and travel plans. Families, coaches and educational institutions can also play a vital role in helping athletes achieve their athletic goals without compromising their studies.

Is it important to compete in junior events for a tennis career?

The junior tennis tournament is an important step towards a professional career in tennis. These tournaments give young athletes the chance to compete against peers, gain valuable experience in matches, and learn how to deal with the mental demands of competitive play. Junior tournaments provide a good stepping stone for players to move up to higher levels of competition. They also have an impact on their ranking, their visibility in front of coaches and sponsors, as well as the overall development they make as athletes.

Statistics

Persistent mental training and sports psychology can help reduce performance anxiety by up to 60%, according to sports psychologists working with elite athletes.
Studies show that superior agility and speed among tennis players can reduce their reaction time by up to 30%, which is crucial during high-level matches.
Engaging in structured video analysis sessions has been shown to improve a player's tactical decision-making by approximately 35%.
Approximately 70% of a professional tennis player's training time is devoted to developing technique and on-court strategies.
Nutritionists report that a tennis player's diet should consist of about 55-60% carbohydrates, 15-20% protein, and 20-25% fats during intense training periods.

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How To

How to Increase endurance during long tennis matches

To build endurance during long tennis matches, you need both anaerobic and aerobic training. Start by incorporating longer, moderate-intensity cardio workouts into your routine, like running or cycling, to improve aerobic capacity. Add high intensity interval training (HIIT), to improve your anaerobic tolerance and recovery between intense rallies. Practice extended baseline rallies on the court and engage in practice matches where you focus on consistency. Include exercises that strengthen your core. A strong, stable core is critical to endurance. Be sure to focus on proper nutrition and recovery in order to maintain a high level of performance.