British tennis player Sonay Kartal has achieved a significant milestone in her career by advancing to the final of the Wuhan Open after defeating Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. Kartal, 24, secured a hard-fought 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) victory on Saturday, overcoming deficits in both sets and saving six set points in the process.
This achievement marks a remarkable comeback for Kartal, who recently returned to the tennis circuit following a six-month hiatus due to a back injury. Since resuming competition, she has displayed impressive form, registering victories over several top players, including Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, and Elina Svitolina.
Ranked No. 170 worldwide at the tournament’s start, Kartal has become the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format’s inception in 2009. Her performance at the Wuhan Open ensures she will climb into the world’s top 50 in the next rankings update, surpassing Katie Boulter as Britain’s new No. 1 in women’s singles.
Against Ostapenko, Kartal demonstrated her mental resilience, recovering from significant set deficits and saving crucial set points to win two challenging tiebreaks. Reflecting on the match, Kartal described it as one of the toughest of her career.
Kartal’s rise in China suggests she is regaining form after her injury setback, building on her previous success when she captured attention by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2025.
In the other semi-final at the Wuhan Open, Poland’s Maja Chwalińska defeated her compatriot Iga Świątek 7-5, 6-1. Świątek, dealing with a left-thigh injury, required a medical timeout and continued the match with her leg bandaged.
