Kartal denied biggest win of career after Chwalinska fightback in Wuhan Open final

French Open finalist wins 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 for her first titleKartal will become new British No 1 after record runSonay Kartal missed out on winning the biggest title of her career as her brilliant run at the Wuhan Open ended in a final defeat by Maja Chwalinska.Kartal has enjoyed her best tournament only a fortnight after returning from six months out with a back injury, but her efforts appeared to catch up with her as she faded in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss. Continue reading…

Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal was denied her first major title after a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Maja Chwalinska in the final of the Wuhan Open in China French Open finalist wins 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 for her first title Sonay Kartal missed out on winning the biggest title of her career as her brilliant run at the Wuhan Open ended in a final defeat by Maja Chwalinska. Kartal has enjoyed her best tournament only a fortnight after returning from six months out with a back injury, but her efforts appeared to catch up with her as she faded in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss.

Instead it was Chwalinska who lifted her first WTA 1000 trophy – the first of her career at any level on the WTA Tour – after fighting back from a set and a break down. The 25-year-old made a stunning breakthrough earlier this season when she reached the French Open final as a qualifier, and she will now move to the brink of the top 10. At 170 in the world,