Sports · Tennis · 29 mins ago
Kartal beats Paolini to reach Wuhan Open quarter-finals
Sonay Kartal beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-0 to reach the Wuhan Open quarter-finals in China.
The 24-year-old Briton defeated Italy’s 15th seed in a match where she did not drop a set.
Kartal missed more than six months with a stress fracture in her back and has won five of seven matches since returning.
Her recovery followed a strong start to the season, when she broke back into the world’s top 50 before the injury forced her to retire from a match.
Her patient return is now bringing results, with wins in Wuhan over Paolini, Belinda Bencic and Anhelina Kalinina.
Kartal will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina next for a place in the semi-finals.
Sonay Kartal beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-0 to reach the Wuhan Open quarter-finals.
The British player defeated Italian 15th seed Paolini in the round of 16.
Kartal has not dropped a set in her three victories in Wuhan.
She is continuing her return after missing more than six months with a stress fracture in her back.
Kartal will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.
- Who
- Britain's Sonay Kartal and Italy's Jasmine Paolini.
- What
- Kartal beat Paolini 6-2 6-0 to reach the Wuhan Open quarter-finals.
- When
- Thursday, 15 October 2026.
- Where
- The Wuhan Open in Wuhan.
- Why
- The win advanced Kartal to the quarter-finals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kartal broke back into the world's top 50 and reached two WTA quarter-finals.
Kartal missed more than six months with a stress fracture in her back.
Kartal returned to action representing Great Britain at the BJK Cup, where she lost narrowly.
Kartal won two matches to reach the third round in Beijing.
Kartal beat Paolini in Wuhan to reach the quarter-finals.
- Score
- Kartal won 6-2 6-0
- Opponent
- Jasmine Paolini, Italian 15th seed
- Next opponent
- Elina Svitolina
- Injury
- Stress fracture in Kartal's back
- Wuhan record
- Three wins without dropping a set
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What people are saying
Against someone as good as Jasmine is, I knew I had to be solid from the start and not let up. From my side, it was a pretty flawless performance,