Wuhan Open final: Sonay Kartal misses out on WTA 1,000 title, losing to Maja Chwalinska
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Britain's Sonay Kartal, ranked 170th, reached the Wuhan Open final in only her third event back after a six-month injury hiatus but lost to Maja Chwalinska in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
- Kartal was attempting to become the first Briton to win a WTA 1,000 title since Johanna Konta in 2017, having defeated several top-10 players and former major champions on her way to the final.
- Despite the loss, Kartal's performance marked a significant comeback, propelling her to 50th in the world rankings and making her the British number one for the first time.
- Kartal credited her team for her recovery and success, highlighting that entering high-level tournaments immediately after injury was a strategic decision that paid off.
- The week earned Kartal approximately £290,000 in prize money, with notable victories over players like Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, Elina Svitolina, and Jelena Ostapenko.
