Sports · Tennis · 1 hr ago
Sonay Kartal reaches Wuhan Open final as lowest-ranked WTA 1000 finalist
Britain’s Sonay Kartal beat Jelena Ostapenko to reach the Wuhan Open final in China.
She is the lowest-ranked finalist in WTA 1000 history, having started the tournament at No 170 in the world.
Kartal, 24, missed six months of the season with a back injury and has played only one other tour-level tournament since March.
She saved all six set points she faced and won both sets in tiebreaks, 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5).
Her run included wins over world No 6 Elina Svitolina, Belinda Bencic and Jasmine Paolini, and five straight victories against top-50 opponents.
Kartal will play for the title on Sunday, against either Iga Swiatek or Maja Chwalinska, who were due to meet in the other semi-final.
Her only previous career title came at a WTA 250 event in Monastir two years ago.
Sonay Kartal beat Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets to reach the Wuhan Open final.
The 24-year-old won 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5), saving six set points.
Ranked 170th before the tournament, she became the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format began.
Kartal is set to return to the world’s top 50 and become Britain’s number one when the next rankings are released on Monday.
She will face either Iga Swiatek or Maja Chwalinska in Sunday’s final.
- Who
- Sonay Kartal, a British tennis player, and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.
- What
- Kartal beat Ostapenko in two tiebreaks to reach the Wuhan Open final.
- When
- Saturday, 17 October 2026.
- Where
- Wuhan, China.
- Why
- Kartal won their semi-final, securing a place in the final. The sources do not state a further reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kartal returned to competition at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Kartal reached the third round at the China Open in Beijing.
Kartal beat Ostapenko in the Wuhan Open semi-final to reach the final.
Kartal is due to play either Iga Swiatek or Maja Chwialinska in the final.
- Semi-final score
- 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5)
- Pre-tournament ranking
- 170th in the world
- Age
- 24
- Set points saved
- Six
- Upcoming final
- Sunday, against either Iga Swiatek or Maja Chwialinska
6 sources
'A huge milestone' - Kartal becomes second Brit ever to reach WTA 1000 final
Kartal battles past Ostapenko in Wuhan to secure spot in first-ever WTA 1000 final
Sonay Kartal speaks immediately after becoming first British player to reach the Wuhan Open final, ‘I’m very proud’
Resurgent Kartal beats Ostapenko to reach Wuhan Open final
Sonay Kartal makes history by reaching biggest final of her career in Wuhan
Kartal reaches Wuhan final as dream week continues
What people are saying
That was one of the toughest matches I've played.
Mentally, I think this is one of the best performances I’ve had in my career, so I’m very proud of that one
The coolest woman in Wuhan, and that’s what got her through: her ability to just stay in the moment, stay in the present, keep cool, and ultimately outlasting Jelena Ostapenko, who hit 50 winners past her and still couldn’t win a set!
Posts on X
170 - Since the Tier format's introduction in 1990, Sonay Kartal (#170) has become the lowest ranked player to reach a Tier I/WTA-1000 final - Jennifer Capriati reached the final as an unranked player in Hilton Head in 1990. Back! #WuhanOpen | @wuhanopentennis @WTA
Big smiles from your WTA 1000 Wuhan Finalist 😁 📸 Wuhan Open/VCG | #DongfengVoyahWuhanOpen