Sonay Kartal missed out on winning the biggest title of her career as her brilliant run at the Wuhan Open ended in a final defeat by Maja Chwalinska. Kartal has enjoyed her best tournament only a fortnight after returning from six months out with a back injury, but her efforts appeared to catch up with her as she faded in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss. Instead it was Chwalinska who lifted her first WTA 1000 trophy -- the first of her career at any level on the WTA Tour -- after fighting back from a set and a break down.
The 25-year-old made a stunning breakthrough earlier this season when she reached the French Open final as a qualifier, and she will now move to the brink of the top 10. At 170 in the world, Kartal was the lowest-ranked player to reach a final at this level since the format was introduced in 2009 and only the second British woman after Johanna Konta. She fell short of matching Konta, who won the Miami Open in 2017, but Kartal's reward will be a new ranking of 50, making her the British No 1 for the first time.
At 170 in the world, Kartal was the lowest-ranked player to reach a final at this level since the format was introduced in 2009 and only the second British woman after Johanna Konta. She fell short of matching Konta, who won the Miami Open in 2017, but Kartal's reward will be a new ranking of 50, making her the British No 1 for the first time. "It was a very physical battle and I think I had my chances and I think that's maybe where the rust of six months off comes in," said Kartal. "But overall I'm very happy with my performance. Obviously not the result I wanted and it's going to sting for a little while but I think for me the positives this week outweigh that result today.
So I'm leaving here head out high and in a good spot overall." Kartal, whose only tour title came at a small event in Tunisia in 2024, continued the form she had shown throughout the tournament in the opening set, immediately breaking the relatively weak Chwalinska serve. The Pole possesses an unconventional game, relying more on the use of spins, slices and angles than pace, but two of Kartal's greatest strengths are her patience and game intelligence, and she dealt with the challenge admirably. She put Chwalinska under constant pressure and broke serve twice more to clinch the opening set.
Given her long break and the physical intensity of this run, it was perhaps not a surprise to see Kartal call the trainer at the end of the first set. She was given a pill, which she took after saving three break points in the opening game of the second set. Fatigue was starting to show and, after breaking serve to lead 2-0, Kartal was unable to battle through another long game.
There was a delay after the second point of the fifth game when Chwalinska broke a shoelace chasing a wide ball but the Pole's defensive skills were beginning to get the better of Kartal and the 16th seed made it one set all. Kartal tried to get back on the front foot at the start of the decider but she was constantly pushed back by high balls from her opponent and Chwalinska overcame late nerves to clinch victory. "[This title] tastes very sweet," Chwalinska said. "I feel like I still don't realise that I won. But it feels special, because after French Open, it was obviously amazing, but then I had some tough moments.
I feel like people also were very rough towards me. And it took a toll on me as well. I'm just a human.
But I kept working really hard and I'm just very grateful that my work paid off.".
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