Sportsupdated 2h ago2 min read
Sonay Kartal Reaches Wuhan Open Semifinals After Beating Elina Svitolina
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Kartal defeated Elina Svitolina to reach the Wuhan Open semifinals. Return followed six-month back injury, dropping ranking to about 170.
7 outlets told this the same way.
Wuhan Semis Breakthrough
Sonay Kartal reached the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career at the Wuhan Open after beating world number six Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4. Kartal framed her decision as a gamble that paid off, saying, "I decided to throw myself in the deep end and play the best players in the world." Kartal also said, "I didn't expect to be back at this level this quickly – I don't think many people did," after returning to the WTA Tour following a debilitating back injury that kept her out for six months.
“On Friday, she beat world number six Elina Svitolina at the Wuhan Open to reach the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career.”
Kartal’s run included a victory over Italian 15th seed Jasmine Paolini in the last 16, and she backed up that win by beating Swiss ninth seed Belinda Bencic in the second round. Kartal’s next match in Wuhan was set against 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko after Ostapenko beat 11th seed Diana Shnaider 7-6 (8-6) 6-1.
Match Details and Momentum
Kartal said she knew Svitolina was dangerous, telling reporters, "I knew it would be a tough choice" and adding that she was "never safe" in the match. The BBC described how Svitolina called for a medical timeout for treatment on her right arm, but Kartal still broke Svitolina's serve at 5-4 in the third set to book her place in the last four. The Telegraph reported that Kartal made a fine start by winning the first set after breaking Svitolina to love in 33 minutes.
The Telegraph also said Kartal needed just one match point to seal the win, hitting a deep backhand and having Svitolina reply with a forehand beyond the baseline. The WTA Tennis account put the quarter-final on the clock as a 2 hours, 3 minutes match, with Kartal converting her first break point of the set, which was also a match point, to secure the 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory.
Comeback Context and Stakes
Kartal’s comeback was built around a six-month absence caused by a stress fracture in her back, and the BBC said the issue led to the longest absence from competitive action of her career.
“Kartal is only the second British player, after Johanna Konta, to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final since the format's introduction in 2009.”
The BBC noted that Kartal had returned to the WTA Tour playing like she had never been away, and it said she had won six of her eight matches since returning to competitive action little more than three weeks ago.
The WTA Tennis account said Kartal’s ranking tumbled from No. 54 to No. 170, and it described her as reaching the semifinals of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time after knocking out world No. 6 Elina Svitolina.
Kartal’s quarter-final win also extended her unbeaten record to 12-0 in 2026 in WTA-level main draws when she wins the first set, according to WTA Tennis.
The BBC said Kartal was only the second British player, after Johanna Konta, to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final since the format's introduction in 2009.