Sonay Kartal becomes British number one after six-month injury layoff

Sonay Kartal became British number one for the first time on Monday after reaching the Wuhan Open final less than a month into her return from a six-month injury absence. The 24-year-old's rise follows a back stress fracture that interrupted her season in March, BBC Sport reported, and comes after just three events since she resumed competition.

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The Lawn Tennis Association reported that her Wuhan run would lift her from world number 170 to number 50, taking her above Katie Boulter in the British standings. Sunday's final was only her 10th match since returning. She lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Maja Chwalinska in two hours and 43 minutes, missing out on a second WTA singles title despite winning the opening set.

Her route to the final included victories over Elina Svitolina and Jelena Ostapenko. According to the WTA, Kartal beat sixth-ranked Svitolina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the quarter-finals before overcoming Ostapenko in two tie-breaks. The tour said she was only the second British player to reach a Tier I or WTA 1000 final since 1990, following Johanna Konta.

Kartal told BBC Sport that the early stages of her recovery included days when walking caused pain. She had been ranked 54th when the injury emerged at Indian Wells and used a protected injury ranking to enter Wuhan. The 650 points earned as runner-up have now taken her above that pre-injury position, although she remains below her career-best ranking of 44th.

The improvement also changes her planning for next season. BBC Sport reported that she will no longer need a protected ranking to enter events including the Australian Open, giving her more flexibility over her schedule. Kartal said her original aim for the Asian swing had been to defend last year's points and make effective use of the protected ranking, a target she believes she has exceeded.

Kartal says the stress fracture has completely healed. After the final, she credited coach Ben Reeves, fitness coach Ian Aylward and physiotherapist Dani Gillanders for helping her return to competition. All three were with her in Wuhan as she completed the tournament that secured her new position at the top of British women's tennis.