Sonay Kartal delivers a standout Wuhan run after six months out

Sonay Kartal’s remarkable week in Wuhan ended with a place in the final and a new milestone: she became Britain’s new No 1 despite losing to Maja Chwalinska. Sky Sports argues that the run may be the most impressive tournament performance by a British woman since Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open. The comparison carries particular weight because Kartal had spent six months out with a stress fracture in her back and returned to action only last month. Wuhan was just her second tour tournament since her comeback. The injury had also forced her to retire in the fourth round at Indian Wells in March against Elena Rybakina, bringing about her longest spell away from tennis.

Kartal’s title bid ended in a three-set loss to Chwalinska, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Polish player was this year’s French Open runner-up. Sky Sports judged Kartal’s week to have brought stiffer opposition than the runs made by Katie Boulter and Raducanu discussed in its analysis, even though Wuhan was only Kartal’s second tournament back after injury.

In Wuhan, Kartal drew on her variety, athleticism and aggressive forehand from awkward positions. After the final, she reflected: “We have had an unbelievable week. Not many people expected me to be here and bring these levels.” She also credited her support team: “It was not the result I wanted today, but those people in my box are the reason I am healthy, I am here and why I am back to fitness.”

The comeback has still demanded patience. “The rehab was tough. I think the main priority was to just get back on court and maybe I didn’t do the big heavy lifting, which now I can do,” Kartal said. She wanted to use the weeks on the Asian swing to assess her physical condition and identify what needed work. Her plan, she said, is to focus on those areas for the rest of the year, while already looking forward to starting the next one.

Kartal could skip the Japan Open in Osaka this week as she recuperates after competing in Wuhan. She could then seek to finish the season at a WTA 500 or WTA 250 event in China, Hong Kong or India. Her extended absence also means she can use a protected ranking to enter tournaments over the next 12 months. The provision is available to players who have been out for at least six months.

Kartal’s rise has developed over the past five years. She came to wider attention with runs to the third round at Wimbledon in 2024 and the fourth round in 2025. Colin Fleming, a former doubles player, backed her to produce more runs of this kind: “There is no doubt in my mind that we will have the pleasure of watching Kartal have these sorts of runs in the future.”