Maja Chwalinska of Poland clinched the first title of her career in her breakthrough year, beating unseeded British player Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Wuhan Open in China.
The French Open runner-up, seeded 16th in Wuhan, gained the momentum in a grueling contest that lasted 2 hours, 43 minutes. She broke for a 4-3 lead in the second set and carried that edge through the decider.
Match statistics
Kartal hit more winners (32-23) but also made more unforced errors (36-27). The match featured no aces on Dongfeng Voyah center court.
Rankings and prize money
Both players were appearing in their first career WTA 1000 final. Chwalinska’s victory will move her up to 11th in the rankings, the WTA said.
Chwalinska beat six-time major winner and Polish compatriot Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Along with 1,000 ranking points, she earns $665,000 in prize money. During her run to the French Open final as a qualifier, Chwalinska did not have enough money to extend her hotel stay in Paris and needed some financial help.
Kartal’s surge
Kartal beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinals. She entered the Wuhan tournament ranked No. 170 and will break into the Top 40.
It was a remarkable week for the 24-year-old Kartal, who missed more than six months earlier this year with a stress fracture in her back.