# Sonay Kartal reaches Wuhan Open semi-finals

> Brit Sonay Kartal upsets top seed Elina Svitolina to reach Wuhan Open semi-finals.
- Title: Sonay Kartal reaches Wuhan Open semi-finals · Sky Sports
- Summary: Brit Sonay Kartal upsets top seed Elina Svitolina to reach Wuhan Open semi-finals. Sonay Kartal, ranked 170th in WTA, becomes lowest-ranked player to reach…
- Keywords: sonay kartal, elina svitolina, wuhan open, wta 1000, jelena ostapenko, billy jean king cup, wta rankings, sports, Sonay, Kartal, reaches, Wuhan
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/13599803/sonay-kartal-brit-breaks-new-ground-by-upsetting-elina-svitolina-to-reach-wuhan-open-semi-finals
- Published: 2026-10-16T08:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sonay kartal, elina svitolina, wuhan open, wta 1000, jelena ostapenko, billy jean king cup, wta rankings, sports
## Sonay Kartal reaches Wuhan Open semi-finals
Britain's Sonay Kartal has stormed into the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open - a WTA 1000 event - in just her third tournament back from injury.
## Defeats Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4
Kartal continued her incredible form by defeating fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4.
## Next opponent: Jelena Ostapenko
She will take on former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday for a spot in Sunday's final.
## Breaking new ground
She is the lowest-ranked player to reach the semi-finals in Wuhan after becoming the second British to reach a WTA-1000 semi-finals since 2009.
## Kartal's recent return
After missing six months with a stress fracture in her back, Kartal returned last month at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
## Kartal's path to semi-finals
In Wuhan, she has swept past world No 48 Anhelina Kalinina, world No 12 Belinda Bencic, two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini, and now four-time major semi-finalist Svitolina.
## Kartal's ranking jump
She missed three of this year's four Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, and is now ranked No 87 after becoming the lowest-ranked player to reach the semi-finals in Wuhan.
## Pundit analysis
Pundit Naomi Broady said: 'I don't think Ostapenko is going to enjoy Kartal's game style with the amount of balls Sonay is going to put back into play.'

> I don't think Ostapenko is going to enjoy Kartal's game style with the amount of balls Sonay is going to put back into play.
## Kartal's confidence
She said: 'I'm breaking new ground this week.I've never reached a semis of a WTA 1000 and like I've said I absolutely love playing here and playing on these courts.The atmosphere was amazing today.'

> I'm breaking new ground this week. I've never reached a semis of a WTA 1000 and like I've said I absolutely love playing here and playing on these courts. The atmosphere was amazing today.
## Key takeaway

Sonay Kartal, ranked 170th in WTA, becomes lowest-ranked player to reach Wuhan Open semi-finals after defeating Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4.