Sonay Kartal has reached the pinnacle of her tennis career by advancing to the final of the Wuhan Open, following a hard-fought victory against Jelena Ostapenko. The British player, who is 24 years old, triumphed over the former French Open champion in two tiebreak sets, securing a 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) win. This achievement comes after a challenging period marked by a six-month hiatus due to a back injury.
Kartal’s journey to the final has been marked by a series of impressive performances, defeating notable players such as Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, and Elina Svitolina. Entering the tournament ranked No. 170 in the world, Kartal has become the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format was introduced in 2009. Her success in Wuhan ensures she will break into the top 50 of the world rankings, surpassing Katie Boulter to become the new British No. 1 in women’s singles.
In her semi-final match against Ostapenko, Kartal exhibited remarkable resilience, overcoming deficits in both sets and saving six set points. She described the match as one of the toughest of her career, highlighting her mental strength as a key factor in her victory.
Kartal had previously made headlines by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2025, but her progress was hampered by injury. Her recent success at the Wuhan Open suggests she is regaining her form and positioning herself as a formidable competitor on the women’s tennis circuit.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Poland’s Maja Chwalińska secured her place in the final by defeating compatriot Iga Świątek with a 7-5, 6-1 victory. Świątek struggled with a left-thigh injury during their match, taking a medical timeout before continuing with her leg bandaged.