Kartal beats Ostapenko in semi-final

British number five Sonay Kartal defeated Jelena Ostapenko seven six, seven six in the Wuhan Open semi-final to reach her first WTA one thousand final.

Kartal's remarkable comeback

The twenty-four-year-old is playing in only her third event since returning from a six-month absence with a back injury, making her run to the final even more remarkable.

Kartal survives six set points

Kartal trailed four one in both sets but remained composed. She survived three set points in the first set and three more in the second to secure victory.

“That was probably one of the toughest matches I've ever played.”

Lowest-ranked WTA 1,000 finalist

At world number one hundred seventy, Kartal is the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA one thousand final since the format was introduced in nineteen ninety.

Chwalinska beats Swiatek

Kartal will face Poland's Maja Chwalinska in Sunday's final. Chwalinska beat six-time major champion Iga Swiatek seven five, six one in her semi-final.

Kartal returns to top fifty

Reaching the final means Kartal will return to the world's top fifty and become Britain's number one player when the next rankings are released on Monday.

Kartal's path to the final

Kartal reached the semi-final with notable wins over Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, two thousand twenty-four Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini and four-time major semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.

Underdog mentality for Sunday

Kartal said she has been the underdog in every match at this event. She expects to put up a good performance regardless of her time away from competition.

“I think in every match I've been the underdog in this event.”