Sonay Kartal's remarkable week continued as she secured a spot in the Wuhan Open final, marking the biggest final of her career. The British number five overcame former Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko in a pulsating semi-final, winning 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-5).
This achievement comes in only Kartal's third event since her return from a six-month absence due to a back injury. The 24-year-old, currently ranked 170th in the world, is the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1,000 final since the format's introduction in 1990.
Kartal's composure was key to her victory, as she recovered from trailing 4-1 in both sets and capitalised on Ostapenko's errors in high-pressure moments. She will now face either six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek or French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska in Sunday's final. Her run to the final guarantees her a return to the world's top 50 and the position of Britain's number one player when the new rankings are released on Monday.