Chwalinska rallies past Kartal to win Wuhan Open title

Maja Chwalinska won the Wuhan Open final on Sunday, recovering from a set and a break down to beat Britain's Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. BBC Sport reported that the Polish player secured her first WTA 1,000 title, ending Kartal's bid for the biggest tournament victory of her career after a week of notable wins in China.

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The result added a major tour-level success to a season in which Chwalinska had already reached the French Open final. The 25-year-old had to recover from a difficult opening against Kartal, who controlled the first set and then moved ahead on serve breaks in the second. Chwalinska reversed that position to take the match into a deciding set.

Kartal could not maintain her early advantage as the contest became more demanding. According to BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko, the British player appeared to tire both physically and mentally during the final. Chwalinska eventually converted her third championship point when Kartal sent a forehand beyond the baseline, completing the comeback after losing the opening set by a four-game margin.

For Kartal, 24, the final came unusually early in her return to competition. Wuhan was only her third event following a six-month absence with a back injury, and Sunday's match was the 10th of her comeback. She had reached the title match after beating opponents who included current top-10 players and former Grand Slam champions, despite starting the tournament ranked 170th.

Victory would have made Kartal the first British player to win a WTA 1,000 title since Johanna Konta in 2017. Instead, she finished runner-up to another player whose season has included an unexpected run at a leading tournament: Chwalinska had reached the Roland Garros final earlier in the year before claiming the Wuhan trophy.

Kartal will nevertheless leave with a substantial rankings gain. BBC Sport reported that she is due to rise to world number 50 when Monday's rankings are released, a position just below her career best. That climb will also make her Britain's number one for the first time, giving her a national milestone even though the final ended in defeat.