Sonay Kartal falls short in Wuhan WTA 1000 final

Sonay Kartal missed out on the first WTA 1000 title of her career, losing to Poland’s Maya Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open final on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The Briton was beaten 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in three sets after building a substantial lead.

Kartal took the opening set and was a break ahead in the second. Victory would have made her the second British player to win a title in this category, after Johanna Konta. But Chwalinska turned the match around and prevailed. She sealed the win on her third championship point, when Kartal sent a forehand beyond the court.

The defeat does not diminish the significance of Kartal’s week, described as the best of her career to that point. Aged 24, she was playing only her third tournament since returning to the tour after six months out with a back injury. The final was also her 10th match since her comeback. The account of the match said the demands of the week eventually caught up with Kartal physically and mentally, as Chwalinska drew her into a difficult contest.

Kartal’s run was all the more notable given that she was ranked 170th in the world at the start of the tournament. She reached the final by beating several high-profile opponents, including players then ranked in the top 10 and former major champions. Chwalinska had also made a significant run this year, reaching the French Open final. At 25, she secured her first WTA 1000 title in Wuhan.

A significant ranking change is expected next for Kartal: BBC Sport reports that she is due to rise to 50th in the world on Monday, just below her career high, and become British number one for the first time. The final did not bring the title she sought, but it capped a particularly successful return after a lengthy spell away.