This has been a breakout year for world number 82 Kartal, notably reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, and after the first set-and-a-half of the opening singles tie, she was eyeing her third win of the year against a player ranked inside the top 20.
Despite the disparity in their rankings, she matched American world number 18 Navarro all the way, with both players winning 89 points.
However, the composure of Navarro, who saved two match points against Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals, to save two break points in the opening game of the third set proved crucial.
Kartal lost her opening service game but quickly banished any nerves, pouncing on a sloppy start from Navarro, who struggled with her serve and forehand, to win the next four games and take the first set.
She dominated their baseline exchanges, utilised her athleticism and the full width of the court to construct multiple winners, and converted all three of her break points. Her confidence was on full display when she chased down a drop shot before nailing a smashed winner to seal the set in style with a hold to love.
Kartal broke again at the start of the second set and again in the fifth game, but on both occasions, Navarro responded immediately. An increasingly error-prone Kartal then handed Navarro three set points – the second of which she took to level the match.
Momentum continued to swing in the final set, with the resilient Navarro surviving an early scare before the pair exchanged breaks midway through the decider.
However, when the American won eight consecutive points to take a 5-2 lead, Kartal was unable to mastermind a comeback of her own, with US captain Lindsay Davenport finally cracking a smile as Navarro converted her second match point.
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