The key facts

  • Fręch defeated Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in 2 hours 43 minutes and claimed her first career title at the WTA 1000 in Wuhan
  • She became the fourth player to win a debut tour title at the WTA 1000 level, after Osaka, Andreescu and Mboko
  • Kartal, returning after a six-month break due to a stress fracture of the spine, reached her first WTA 1000 final and will return to the top 50

Comeback in the Wuhan final

Polish tennis player Magdalena Fręch, seeded 16th, defeated Britain's Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Wuhan Open final on Sunday and claimed the first tour-level title of her career. She was down a set and a break, but turned the match around. According to AFP, she became only the fourth player to win her debut tour-level title at a WTA 1000 event, joining Naomi Osaka (Indian Wells 2018), Bianca Andreescu (Indian Wells 2019) and Victoria Mboko (Montreal 2025).

Road to a career-high ranking

The 25-year-old Fręch began the year ranked 146th in the world and became one of the biggest surprises of the season, reaching the Roland Garros final in June after coming through qualifying. From Monday, when the new rankings are released, she will rise to a career high of No. 11, entering the top 20 for the first time. A left-hander, she knocked out her compatriot Iga Świątek in the semifinals during the tournament.

Course of the match

The first set was under Kartal's control: she dictated play with powerful shots from the baseline, while Fręch was forced to defend. Kartal took the set in 45 minutes, securing three breaks. In the second set Fręch stepped up, putting pressure on her opponent's serve with the same tools that helped her beat Świątek: extending rallies, retrieving virtually every ball and adding variety with soft play. Although Kartal saved 10 of 13 break points and led 2-0 early in the set, she lost it in 71 minutes. In the deciding set, Kartal, in AFP's wording, 'ran out of steam', Fręch made two breaks and converted her third match point after 2 hours and 43 minutes of play.

Outcome for Kartal

Kartal was returning to the tour after a six-month break due to a stress fracture of the spine, and Wuhan was only her second tournament since her return. Before the tournament she was ranked 170th in the world, but by reaching the first WTA 1000 final of her career she will return to the top 50 of the rankings.