Kartal reaches Wuhan final as dream week continues

Sonay Kartal's dream week continued as she beat former Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko at the Wuhan Open to reach the biggest final of her career. British number five Kartal was playing in only her third event since returning from a six-month absence due to a back injury, but she now stood one victory away from claiming a WTA 1,000 title—one of the most prestigious prizes outside the Grand Slams. The 24-year-old's composure helped her secure a close 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-5) victory in a thrilling semi-final against Latvia's Ostapenko.

Kartal trailed 4-1 in both sets but managed to remain level-headed, taking advantage when 34th-ranked Ostapenko stumbled in high-pressure moments. Remarkably, Kartal survived three set points in the first set and three more set points in the second, earning a victory that will be remembered for years. "That was probably one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played," said Kartal. "At times she is unplayable and you have to ride that wave. Mentally, this is one of the best performances of my career."

The world number 170 is the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1,000 final since the format was introduced in 1990. Kartal was scheduled to face French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska—who defeated six-time major champion Iga Swiatek in her semi-final—for the title on Sunday.

Reaching the final meant Kartal, who has ranked as high as 44th in the world, was set to return to the world’s top 50 and become Britain’s number one player when the next rankings were released on Monday.

Kartal's journey at the Wuhan Open highlights a return to form after a period of difficulties. After her comeback while representing Great Britain at the BJK Cup just over three weeks ago, she secured a couple of confidence-boosting wins at the Beijing Open, which propelled her into Wuhan.

With consistent baseline hits, remarkable athleticism, and unmatched tenacity, Kartal advanced to the semi-finals with standout victories over Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, and four-time major semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.

Ostapenko, known for her powerful hitting and inconsistency, posed a distinct challenge compared to Kartal's previous opponents. Early in the match, it appeared daunting for Kartal as Ostapenko quickly capitalized on her second serve to break Kartal’s serve immediately. However, amid a volatile performance, Kartal turned the momentum around by taking advantage of Ostapenko’s errors.

Following her semi-final success, Kartal expressed her mindset for the final: "I think in every match I’ve been the underdog in this event. So I think the only pressure is the pressure that I’ve put on myself, regardless of how long I’ve spent out; I still expect to put up a good performance."

Both finalists—Kartal and Chwalinska—find themselves in uncharted territory as they vie for one of the biggest titles of their careers.