Sonay Kartal has achieved a significant milestone in her tennis career by reaching the finals of the Wuhan Open after defeating Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. The British player triumphed with a score of 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) on Saturday, showcasing her resilience by overcoming deficits in both sets and saving six set points.
This victory is a remarkable comeback for Kartal, who recently returned to top-level competition following a six-month hiatus due to a back injury. Her impressive performance in China has seen her overcome established players such as Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, and Elina Svitolina. Ranked world No. 170 at the start of the tournament, Kartal has now become the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format’s inception in 2009. Her success at the Wuhan Open will propel her into the world’s top 50, making her Britain’s new women’s singles No. 1, surpassing Katie Boulter.
Reflecting on her match against Ostapenko, Kartal described it as one of the toughest of her career, highlighting her mental fortitude in prevailing through two demanding tiebreaks. Her journey in the tournament has reignited her earlier promise, which was evident when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2025 before her progress was halted by injury.
In the other semi-final match, Poland’s Maja Chwalińska defeated her compatriot Iga Świątek with a score of 7-5, 6-1. Świątek was hampered by a left-thigh injury during the match, requiring a medical timeout and continuing to play with her leg bandaged.