# Kartal falls short in Wuhan Open final

> British number one-in-waiting Sonay Kartal loses to Maja Chwalinska in WTA 1,000 final after remarkable comeback week.
- Title: Kartal falls short in Wuhan Open final · BBC Sport | Shortify
- Summary: British number one-in-waiting Sonay Kartal loses to Maja Chwalinska in WTA 1,000 final after remarkable comeback week. Sonay Kartal lost the Wuhan Open final…
- Keywords: sonay kartal, maja chwalinska, wuhan open, wta 1000, tennis, british tennis, comeback, sports, Kartal, falls, short, Wuhan
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cqm2411vp3dgo
- Published: 2026-10-18T13:39:24.571+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sonay kartal, maja chwalinska, wuhan open, wta 1000, tennis, british tennis, comeback, sports
## Kartal loses Wuhan final
Sonay Kartal, 24, lost the Wuhan Open final to Poland's Maja Chwalinska six two, six four, six two on Sunday. It was Kartal's third event since returning from a six-month back injury.
## Chwalinska's first WTA 1,000 title
Chwalinska, 25, claimed her first WTA 1,000 title. The French Open runner-up took her third championship point when Kartal hammered a forehand long in the third set.
## Kartal becomes British number one
Despite losing, Kartal will climb to 50th in the world rankings on Monday and become the British number one for the first time. She earned prize money of about £290,000.
## Kartal's remarkable run
Ranked 170th at the start, Kartal reached the final in just her tenth comeback match.
## How Kartal got her entry
Kartal entered the Wuhan Open through a protected injury ranking, given to players out for six months or more. She was the British number five before this tournament.
## Kartal's first-set dominance
Kartal dominated the opening set, exchanging breaks with Chwalinska before taking her serve again for a three one lead. She took a third set point on her seventh break opportunity of the match.
## Chwalinska's counter-attack
Chwalinska, a counter-puncher, drew Kartal into longer rallies than she faced against Ostapenko. In set two, Kartal faced thirteen break points and lost serve three times as Chwalinska forced a decider.
## Kartal's message to her team
Addressing her team before receiving the runners-up trophy, 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."

> 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.
## Key takeaway

Sonay Kartal lost the Wuhan Open final to Maja Chwalinska six two, six four, six two, but will become British number one on Monday after her remarkable comeback from injury.