Sonay Kartal Upsets Svitolina to Reach Wuhan Open Semi-Finals
Tennis·October 16, 2026

Britain's Sonay Kartal is through to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open after beating Elina Svitolina, a result that few would have expected from a player still working her way back to full competitive rhythm.
The win came at a WTA 1000 event, one of the tour's most important tiers below the Grand Slams. Svitolina has spent years in the upper reaches of the rankings and is a difficult opponent on any surface, so getting past her is a meaningful marker for Kartal.
The timing makes the run more striking. This is only Kartal's third tournament since returning from injury, which means she has had limited match time to build sharpness. Reaching the last four of a 1000-level event at this stage suggests she has found her game quickly, and it gives her a platform heading into the business end of the week in Wuhan.
Kartal's next opponent and the full scoreline are worth checking against the official WTA results, but the headline is clear: a British player has taken down a established name in China and moved into the semi-finals.
Reporting based on an external source.