Sports · Tennis · 49 mins ago
Sonay Kartal beats Elina Svitolina to reach Wuhan Open semi-finals
Britain’s Sonay Kartal beat Elina Svitolina to reach the Wuhan Open semi-finals in China.
The 24-year-old won 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 against the tournament’s fifth seed.
The Wuhan Open is a WTA 1000 event, one of the tour’s major tournaments.
Kartal had missed six months with a stress fracture in her back and is playing only her third tournament since returning from injury.
Her run has included wins over Belinda Bencic and Jasmine Paolini, and she is now set to return to the world’s top 100.
Kartal is the second British player to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final, after Johanna Konta.
She will play former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday, with a place in Sunday’s final at stake.
Sonay Kartal beat fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the Wuhan Open semi-finals.
The win gives Kartal her first semi-final at a WTA 1000 event.
Kartal, 24, is playing in just her third tournament since returning from a back injury.
She will face Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday for a place in Sunday's final.
Kartal said she was proud of her determination and composure during the match.
- Who
- Sonay Kartal and Elina Svitolina.
- What
- Kartal beat Svitolina in three sets to reach the Wuhan Open semi-finals.
- When
- 16 October 2026.
- Where
- The Wuhan Open in Wuhan.
- Why
- Kartal advanced to the semi-finals with the win; the sources do not state a further reason for the match.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kartal reached the fourth round of Indian Wells before missing six months with a stress fracture in her back.
Kartal returned to competition at the Billie Jean King Cup.
Kartal reached the third round in Beijing.
Kartal defeated Svitolina to reach the Wuhan Open semi-finals.
Kartal is scheduled to face Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the final.
- Match score
- Kartal beat Svitolina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
- Tournament
- Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 event
- Kartal's age
- 24
- Next opponent
- Jelena Ostapenko
- Return from injury
- Third tournament back after a stress fracture in her back
5 sources
Sonay Kartal beats World No 6 to continue superb Wuhan Open run
Kartal shocks Svitolina to reach first WTA 1000 semi-final
Kartal upsets Svitolina to reach Wuhan semi-finals
Sonay Kartal reacts after making British history to reach the semi-finals in Wuhan, ‘I’m breaking new ground’
What people are saying
Despite winning the first set pretty comfortably, I knew what a great fighter she [Svitolina] is, so I knew that until the very last point was played, I was never safe.
It was solid composure from me throughout,
I’m breaking new ground this week. I’ve never reached a semis of a WTA 1000, and like I’ve said, I absolutely love playing here and playing on these courts. The atmosphere was amazing today.
Posts on X
Hanging tough! 👊 Sonay Kartal talks about her mentality and resilience that helped her secure the win today. #dongfengvoyahwuhanopen
2 - Sonay Kartal is the second British to reach a WTA-1000 semi-finals since the format’s introduction in 2009 after Johanna Konta. Announce. #WuhanOpen | @wuhanopentennis @WTA