Kartal's dominant Wuhan victory

Britain's Sonay Kartal beat Italian fifteenth seed Jasmine Paolini six two, six zero to reach the Wuhan Open quarter-finals. Paolini reached the French Open and Wimbledon finals in two thousand twenty-four.

Six months away from tennis

The twenty-four-year-old Kartal missed more than six months with a stress fracture in her back. She has won five of her seven matches since returning to action.

Kartal's difficult recovery choice

Kartal was unable to brush her teeth without being in agony. Missing Wimbledon was particularly tough, especially given she reached the fourth round of her home Grand Slam in two thousand twenty-five.

“being in agony”

Unbeaten run at Wuhan

Kartal has not dropped a set in victories over Ukrainian world number forty-eight Anhelina Kalinina, two thousand twenty Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and Paolini.

Svitolina awaits in quarter-finals

Kartal will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals on Friday. She said she is growing in confidence with every match she is playing.

“growing in confidence with every match I'm playing”