Kartal in historic upset

Wuhan — World number 170 Sonay Kartal became the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final as she knocked out Jelena Ostapenko with a gritty 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (7-5) win at the Wuhan Open last night.

The 24-year-old Briton is playing just her second tour event since returning from a six-month injury layoff, having suffered a spinal stress fracture that sidelined her from March to September.

Kartal, who was ranked a career-high 44 in the world 15 months ago, is the lowest-ranked WTA 1000 finalist since the format’s introduction in 2009.

In a close affair with 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, Kartal showed tremendous composure and dug herself out of multiple holes to become the first British finalist in Wuhan Open history.