Sonay Kartal is the new British No 1 after her remarkable run to the Wuhan Open final where she was narrowly beaten by Poland’s Maja Chwalinska in three sets.
Kartal became just the second Briton, after Johanna Konta, to play in a WTA 1000 final with superb wins over Tokyo Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini, world No 6 Elina Svitolina and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
It is arguably the most impressive tournament performance from a British female player since Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open, particularly given Kartal only returned to action last month following six months out due to a stress fracture in her back.
“We have had an unbelievable week. Not many people expected me to be here and bring these levels,” said the 24-year-old after losing 2-6 6-4 6-2 to this year’s French Open runner-up Chwalinska.
“I hope I can be in many more of these finals. It was not the result I wanted today but those people in my box are the reason I am healthy, I am here and why I am back to fitness.”
Kartal has slowly climbed up the WTA rankings over the last five years but emerged onto the public stage with runs to the third and fourth round at Wimbledon in 2024 and 2025.
She became known for her variety, athleticism and aggressive forehand from awkward angles – strengths that helped her last week in Wuhan.
Image:
Sonay Kartal is up to 50th on the WTA rankings after her run to the final in Wuhan (Chinatopix Via AP)
Kartal’s stress fracture in her back saw her retire from the fourth round of Indian Wells in March against Elena Rybakina and led to her longest period out of tennis.
The long spell on the sidelines means Kartal can use her protected ranking – a provision that allows players to use the ranking they had at the time of their injury, if they have been out for at least six months, to enter tournaments over the next 12 months.
“The rehab was tough. I think the main priority was to just get back on court and maybe I didn’t do the big heavy lifting, which now I can do,” said Kartal.
“I wanted to use these weeks to see where I’m at physically and what I need to improve and to see if I’m feeling how I was on the court from in March. The remainder of this year I’m going to work on those things and I’m excited to start next year already.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sonay Kartal discussed her back injury after reaching the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open and whether she will get a celebratory tattoo if she wins.
How good could Kartal be?
We have been here before with British tennis players – Katie Boulter won a WTA 500 event in 2024, Raducanu memorably won the 2021 US Open as a teenager, and reached the final at Queen’s Club this summer before a stress fracture in her right leg forced her to miss Wimbledon, the US Open and likely the remainder of this season.
Kartal’s week in Wuhan was arguably against stiffer opposition than what Boulter and Raducanu faced, plus it was only her second tour tournament back after injury.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we will have the pleasure of watching Kartal have these sorts of runs in the future,” said former doubles player and Sky Sports Tennis’ Colin Fleming.
“She is playing at such a high level and will get better.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The match between Sonay Kartal and Maja Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open final started in style with this rally.
At 30 years old, Boulter is likely in the peak years of her career while Raducanu and Kartal should still have more to come.
For Kartal, her serve and ball-striking on both wings are two key areas which will need improvement if she’s to become an established top player.
British tennis could benefit from an injury-free Raducanu and Kartal, both pushing each other on in 2027 because both have now shown tremendous potential, it’s now a question of hitting those heights more consistently.
In the immediate future, Kartal may withdraw from this week’s Japan Open in Osaka to recover from her Wuhan efforts before looking to conclude her season in one of the WTA 500 or WTA 250s in China, Hong Kong and India – all live on Sky Sports Tennis over the next three weeks.
“I had one goal with this Asian swing was to just defend the points that I did from last year and I’ve done better than that so it’s set me up incredibly for next year and put me in a very good spot,” said Kartal.
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours live on Sky Sports, with this week’s action including events in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, France and Belgium. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract on NOW.