Isophoric News · Sunday, October 18, 2026
Kartal falls in three sets to Chwalinska in Wuhan Open final after a six-month injury layoff
Britain's Sonay Kartal lost the Wuhan Open final to Poland's Maja Chwalinska 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday, missing out on a first WTA 1000 title, the BBC and Sky Sports reported. Kartal, 24, is playing her third tournament since returning from a six-month absence caused by a back injury, according to the BBC; Sky says she was ranked 170th before the event and will return to the top 50. The BBC reports she will move to 50th on Monday and become British number one for the first time, with prize money of about £290,000. Kartal said, "It's not the result we wanted today, but those three people in my box are why I'm here, healthy and back to fitness," according to the BBC.
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