Marie Bouzkova has certainly shrugged off her slow start.

The Czech cruises to a love hold - her first straightforward service game of this tricky test.

Marie Bouzkova makes a positive start on Sonay Kartal's serve with a backhand down the line. More noise from the Czech fans.

Kartal makes a swift recovery, though, and serves her way to another game.

Marie Bouzkova resets and a quick one-two punch off a wide serve keeps Sonay Kartal at bay.

An excellent touch at the net from Marie Bouzkova helps her to 40-0, but Sonay Kartal whacks a return down the line to stay in the game.

Another huge return! Kartal isn't letting this one go without a fight either...

An important hold. Sonay Kartal halts the run of games against her to edge back in front.

She heads for a quick word with captain Anne Keothavong during the change of ends.

It's been a great contest so far, and Sonay Kartal will believe she should be ahead given her efforts so far.

It's been a great tussle. Almost half an hour in and we've only played four games.

Incredible defence from Marie Bouzkova.

The Czech was on the ropes throughout that point, but stays alive long enough to create space for a winner and get over the line to hold.

Marie Bouzkova pulls Sonay Kartal in with a delicate drop shot before finishing the point for 30-15.

But Kartal responds with a wonderful, sliced drop shot of her own to stay in touch! Lovely shot, and a great time to do it to with Bouzkova growing in confidence.

The Briton is battling away and reaches another break point - but Bouzkova makes no mistake at the net as the quality continues to rise.

Mel South
Former British player on BBC TV

Right at this moment Sonay Kartal will be disappointed not to hold to go 3-0 up, but overall she's in good stead with how she is playing. She has started so solid out there on the court.

The pressure eventually tells as Marie Bouzkova rips into a return and then hammers down an overhead to complete the comeback from 40-0 down to break back in this first set.

That's a big game for the Czech player after a slow start.

Saved by Sonay Kartal, who sends Marie Bouzkova one way before knocking an assured forehand into the open space.

A timely ace helps relieve the pressure, but Kartal can't get over the line just yet.

Sonay Kartal holds her nerve and brushes the line with a forehand as she looks to secure a quick escape, but slices wide on the following point.

The Briton then misses a forehand on the run and will have to face a break-back point.

Olga Savchuk
Ukrainian former player on BBC TV

That backhand down the line, Sonay Kartal has already hit a few winners down there. I like to see she is not rushed, she is playing through the middle and then looking for that one ball she can really attack.

Oh that's a horrible miss! Marie Bouzkova has certainly not settled as quickly as Sonay Kartal here and drops an overhead into the net with the court seemingly at her mercy.

Kartal is in control at 40-0 before sending a forehand into the net, but a couple of misses from the baseline bring Bouzkova to deuce.

Shot! Sonay Kartal slams a two-handed backhand into the corner to seize her opportunity. What a start by the 24-year-old.

Image source, Getty Images

Positive start by Sonay Kartal here, the Briton edging to 15-30 as she looks to apply some early pressure.

Marie Bouzkova blinks first in a baseline exchange, and that will be two break points!

You can watch live coverage of this match, as you may have already spotted, at the top of this page!

Nicely done. Sonay Kartal, contesting her first competitive match since March, holds serve from 30-30 to get GB up and running.

Olga Savchuk
Ukrainian former player on BBC TV

Sonay Kartal's game really suits this surface. She likes it, she feels it's a bit slower. She likes these conditions, can move the ball around. I think her variety can match up to Marie Bouzkova's game well.

Marie Bouzkova won the only previous meting between these two, in straight sets at the 2025 French Open.

The Czech is ranked 26th in the world, while Sonay Kartal is currently 127th.

Warm-ups complete, we're just about ready to get under way in Shenzhen.