Maja Chwalinska wins first WTA 1000 title at Wuhan Open
Maja Chwalinska defeated Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, claiming her maiden tour-level title and becoming the fourth player to win a first title at WTA 1000 level since 2009.
Maja Chwalinska won the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open on Sunday, defeating Britain's Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to claim her first career title. The victory at the WTA 1000 event makes the 25-year-old Pole only the fourth player to win her maiden tour-level title at this prestigious level since the format's introduction in 2009.
Chwalinska recovered from a set down in the final, overcoming an immediate break of serve in the opening set. Kartal broke twice more to seal the first set but faced a physical battle thereafter. The British player called for the trainer at the end of the first set and was given a pill after saving three break points early in the second. A brief delay occurred in the fifth game of the second set when Chwalinska broke a shoelace chasing a wide ball.
Historic milestones for Chwalinska and Kartal
Chwalinska's triumph marks several historic firsts. She is the third Polish player to reach a WTA 1000 final, joining Agnieszka Radwanska and Iga Swiatek, and the first Pole to reach the final in Wuhan. Also, she is the first left-hander to win a WTA 1000 title since Petra Kvitova in Miami 2023.
For Sonay Kartal, ranked No. 170 entering the tournament, the run was equally groundbreaking. She became the lowest-ranked player to reach a WTA 1000 final since 2009, surpassing the previous record held by Svetlana Kuznetsova (No. 153 at Cincinnati 2019). Kartal is also the second British woman to reach a WTA 1000 final, after Johanna Konta.
Chwalinska’s rapid rise and breakthrough season
Maja Chwalinska's victory caps a stunning season of ascent. She began the year ranked No. 146 and arrived at Roland-Garros outside the top 100 and without a sponsor. There, she came through qualifying to reach the French Open final, becoming only the second qualifier to achieve a Grand Slam final in the Open Era after Emma Raducanu.
Her Wuhan win, her fourth WTA 1000 main draw appearance, propels her into the sport's elite. She is expected to move into the top 10, making her top 20 debut at No. 11 on Monday. Her path in Wuhan included a first career top 10 win, a 7-5, 6-1 semifinal victory over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
Chwalinska's route to the Wuhan title:
| Opponent | Round | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Mayar Sherif | First | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Marie Bouzkova | Second | 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 |
| Iva Jovic | Third | 6-4, 6-1 |
| Maria Sakkari | Quarterfinal | 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 |
| Iga Swiatek | Semifinal | 7-5, 6-1 |
| Sonay Kartal | Final | 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
Kartal’s remarkable run despite injury layoff
Sonay Kartal's journey to the final was arguably more improbable. Wuhan was only her second tour-level event since retiring with a lower back injury at Indian Wells in March. Before this season, she had won only four tour-level matches in her career.
Ranked 170th, she defeated five former WTA 1000 finalists en route to the final, a feat matched only by Naomi Osaka in Montreal 2025. This remarkable series of wins will see her ranking soar to 50 and she will become British No. 1 for the first time.
Kartal's path through former finalists:
| Opponent (former WTA 1000 finalist) | Round | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Anhelina Kalinina | First | 7-5, 6-3 |
| Belinda Bencic | Second | 6-0, 7-5 |
| Jasmine Paolini | Third | 6-2, 6-0 |
| Elina Svitolina | Quarterfinal | 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 |
| Jelena Ostapenko | Semifinal | 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) |
Match details and player reactions
Reflecting on the final, Kartal acknowledged the physical toll. 'It was a very physical battle and I think I had my chances,' she said. She expressed pride in her overall performance, stating she was leaving Wuhan with her head held high.
For Chwalinska, the title was a sweet reward after a turbulent period following her French Open breakthrough. She admitted the public scrutiny took a toll. 'I feel like people also were very rough towards me. And it took a toll on me as well. I’m just a human,' Chwalinska said. 'But I kept working really hard and I’m just very grateful that my work paid off.'
The other three players who have won their first tour-level title at a WTA 1000 event are Naomi Osaka (Indian Wells 2018), Bianca Andreescu (Indian Wells 2019), and Victoria Mboko (Montreal 2025). Maja Chwalinska will make her top 20 debut at No. 11 on Monday.
