WUHAN, China, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Maja Chwalinska secured her first WTA title by overcoming Sonay Kartal with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Wuhan Open final on Sunday. After an initial struggle, the French Open finalist adapted her strategy to disrupt Kartal’s rhythm, utilizing defensive lobs and precise shots to the corners.
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Kartal, ranked 170th in the WTA and the lowest-ranked finalist in a WTA 1000 event, dominated the first set with strong forehands, while Chwalinska’s attempts at drop shots and slices often missed the mark. However, in the second set, Chwalinska rallied back, engaging Kartal in lengthy rallies and securing three breaks, which forced a decisive third set.
In the final set, Kartal faced challenges, committing 11 unforced errors as Chwalinska gained momentum, winning four consecutive games to seal her victory. Following the match, Kartal described the contest as a significant challenge and noted her recent return from a six-month injury layoff, ahead of an expected rise into the top 50 of the rankings.
Chwalinska, who made history as the first qualifier to reach the French Open final in June, credited her coaches for their support during what is shaping up to be the most successful year of her career, during which she has improved her ranking from 146th to a likely career-high of 11th. "I am very grateful for every person in my life, basically," she said.