Kartal denied biggest win of career after Chwalinska fightback in Wuhan Open final

Sonay Kartal missed out on winning the biggest title of her career as her brilliant run at the Wuhan Open ended in a final defeat by Maja Chwalinska.

Kartal has enjoyed her best tournament only a fortnight after returning from six months out with a back injury, but her efforts appeared to catch up with her as she faded in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss.

Instead it was Chwalinska who lifted her first WTA 1000 trophy – the first of her career at any level on the WTA Tour – after fighting back from a set and a break down. The 25‑year‑old made a stunning breakthrough earlier this season when she reached the French Open final as a qualifier, and she will now move towards the top 10.

At 170 in the world, Kartal was the lowest-ranked player to reach a final at this level since the format was introduced in 2009 and only the second British woman after Johanna Konta. She fell short of matching Konta, who won the Miami Open in 2017, but Kartal’s reward will be a new ranking of 50, making her the British No 1 for the first time.

“It was a very physical battle and I think I had my chances and I think that’s maybe where the rust of six months off comes in,” Kartal said. “But overall I’m very happy with my performance. Obviously not the result I wanted and it’s going to sting for a little while but I think for me the positives this week outweigh that result today. So I’m leaving here head high and in a good spot overall.”