Sonay Kartal of Britain was defeated by Poland's Maja Chwalinska in a thrilling final at the Wuhan Open, ending her bid for a maiden WTA 1000 title. Kartal initially led the match, winning the first set 6-2 and breaking early in the second set, but Chwalinska mounted a comeback to win the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
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Despite the loss, this week marked a significant achievement for Kartal, who recently returned to competitive play after a six-month hiatus due to a back injury. With her performance this week, she is expected to move into the top 50 of the WTA rankings, a substantial jump from her previous ranking of 170th, following victories over notable opponents like Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, Elina Svitolina, and Jelena Ostapenko.
"That was one heck of a battle, Maja," Kartal said. She will become the new British No. 1 on the upcoming Monday. "I hope I can be in many more of these finals. It was not the result I wanted today but those people in my box are the reason I am healthy, I am here and why I am back to fitness."
The final began with Kartal showcasing her skill, taking a 2-0 lead. Although Chwalinska broke back, Kartal regained her advantage and won the first set quickly. However, Chwalinska adjusted her game in the second set, increasing her aggression, which allowed her to break Kartal's serve and ultimately win the set.
In the deciding set, both players shared the first four games, but Kartal appeared to struggle with fatigue. Chwalinska capitalized on these longer rallies, winning four consecutive games to secure her first major title.
In related news, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina won his first ATP 1000 title at the Shanghai Masters, defeating Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, despite being a set and a break down.