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Sonay Kartal Fades in Wuhan Open Final as Maja Chwalinska Wins
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Chwalinska defeated Kartal in three sets to win the Wuhan Open final Kartal returned from a six-month back injury to reach her first WTA 1000 final
Kartal denied in Wuhan
Sonay Kartal missed out on the biggest title of her career as she faded in the Wuhan Open final against Maja Chwalinska, losing 2-6 6-4 6-2. Kartal, 24, had been bidding to lift the trophy in only her third event since returning from a six-month absence caused by a back injury, and she entered the final ranked 170th in the world at the start of the event.
Chwalinska, 25, fought back after Kartal led by a break in the second set, and Chwalinska took her third championship point when Kartal hammered a forehand long. Kartal’s run ended with her physical level under severe scrutiny at the start of the second set, and she then ran out of steam physically and mentally as the match moved into the third set.
From comeback to British No 1
Kartal said, "It's not the result we wanted today, but those three people in my box are why I'm here, healthy and back to fitness," as she addressed her team before receiving the runners-up trophy. Kartal also told reporters, "We have had an unbelievable week - not many people expected me to be here and bring the level I did," after her comeback week in China.
Kartal’s defeat still set up a ranking jump, because the BBC said she would "climb to 50th in the world rankings" on Monday and become the British number one for the first time. Kartal’s week had included wins over Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, Elina Svitolina, and Jelena Ostapenko, and the BBC described her as playing in just the 10th match of her impressive comeback.
Chwalinska’s first WTA 1000
Chwalinska lifted her first WTA 1000 trophy, and the Guardian said it was "the first of her career at any level on the WTA Tour" after she fought back from a set and a break down. Chwalinska said, "[This title] tastes very sweet," and she added, "I feel like I still don’t realise that I won."
The BBC said Kartal was attempting to become the first Briton to win a WTA 1,000 title since Johanna Konta in 2017, and it also said Kartal would become the British number one for the first time. The Guardian framed the match as a physical battle, quoting Kartal saying, "It was a very physical battle and I think I had my chances" as her run ended in a final defeat.