Sonay Kartal’s dream week at the Wuhan Open rolled on as she beat former Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko to reach the biggest final of her career.
The British number five is only playing her third event since coming back from a six-month absence with a back injury, and she’s now one win away from a WTA 1000 title, one of the most prestigious prizes outside the Grand Slams.
She won a pulsating semi-final 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-5) against Latvia’s Ostapenko, and it was her composure that did it. The 24-year-old trailed 4-1 in both sets but stayed level-headed and pounced when Ostapenko faltered under pressure.
WHAT A MOMENT 🤩
Sonay Kartal is into the final in Wuhan!
#dongfengvoyahwuhanopen https://t.co/C6RyteZj9b
— wta (@WTA) October 17, 2026
She also saved three set points in the first set and three more in the second, a win that will live long in the memory.
The achievement is historic. Ranked 170th in the world, Kartal is the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since the format was introduced in 1990. Before her long layoff she had been ranked 54th.
On Sunday she’ll face either six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Świątek or French Open finalist Maja Chwalińska.
“That was probably one of the toughest matches I’ve ever played,” said Kartal.
“At times she is unplayable and you have to ride that wave. Mentally, this is one of the best performances of my career.”
According to TNT Sports,Sonay Kartal has become the lowest-ranked player since 1990 to reach a WTA-1000 level final (170th) after beating Jelena Ostapenko.
