A good all-rounder at sports, once Kartal decided to put her sole focus on tennis she was determined she would make it as a professional.
For the majority of her time as a teenager she was self-funded and travelled to tournaments without a coach.
She also had difficult periods of injury which led to her not picking up a racquet for two years.
Now she is ranked 51st in the world after a rapid rise.
BBC Sport pundit Tim Henman said: "We know her journey. She has gone through every stage working and improving in the small tournaments, sometimes travelling on her own.
"This time last year [she was] ranked 250-300 in the world and [is] now looking so comfortable. It goes to show, when you invest in that hard work, what is achievable.
"She is reaping the rewards because she is so invested."
Kartal, from Brighton, has the same coaching team around her from when she was younger.
Keothavong added: "There's a huge amount of trust with the people she works with.
"She'll run all day, put lots of balls back in court and play with a brilliant attitude and big heart.
"She moves incredibly well and foot speed is right up there with some of the best.
"She's enjoying every moment."
Keothavong added that Kartal was a "fantastic person" who she "wanted the British public to get to know better".
She has certainly charmed the fans with her positive attitude and style.
On court she wears baggy, almost retro style tennis clothes - which ties in with her love of 1990s music.
She has 14 tattoos. One is the year '2022' to mark the first time she played in all four Grand Slams.
Another reads "the show must go on", which hopefully will be what her Wimbledon story will be doing in Sunday's fourth round.