Wuhan, Oct 22:
Poland’s Maja Chwalinska captured the first WTA Tour title of her career after rallying from a set down to defeat Britain’s Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Wuhan Open final on Sunday.
The 16th-seeded Chwalinska needed two hours and 43 minutes to overcome the unseeded Kartal in a closely contested final at Dongfeng Voyah Centre Court. Both players were competing in their first WTA 1000 final.
Kartal made the stronger start, taking the opening set 6-2 and moving ahead 2-0 in the second. Chwalinska responded by improving the depth and aggression of her shots, extending rallies and putting her opponent under pressure.
The turning point came in the second set when Chwalinska broke for a 4-3 lead. She eventually secured the set 6-4 before taking control of the decider. After moving ahead 3-2, the Polish player won the final games to seal the biggest title of her career.
Kartal finished with more winners than Chwalinska, 32 to 23, but also made more unforced errors, 36 to 27. Neither player served an ace during the match.
Chwalinska’s victory capped a remarkable season in which she also reached the French Open final as a qualifier. She defeated six-time major champion and compatriot Iga Swiatek in the Wuhan semifinals.
The title earned Chwalinska 1,000 ranking points and $665,000 in prize money. She was projected to rise to a career-high No. 11 in the WTA rankings after beginning the tournament at No. 22.
Her journey has included financial difficulties. During her run to the French Open final, Chwalinska reportedly struggled to afford an extension of her hotel stay in Paris and needed financial assistance.
Kartal, meanwhile, produced an impressive run despite returning from a six-month absence caused by a back injury. Her performance in Wuhan is expected to significantly improve her world ranking and strengthen her position on the tour.