WTA Wuhan Open
Maja Chwalińska won the Wuhan Open on Sunday, the first title of her career, coming from a set and a break down to beat Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 43 minutes. The Polish No. 16 seed broke twice in the decider and won on her third championship point.
A First Title at WTA 1000 Level
Chwalińska is only the fourth player since 2009 to win her first tour-level title at a WTA 1000 event, after Naomi Osaka at Indian Wells in 2018, Bianca Andreescu at Indian Wells in 2019 and Victoria Mboko in Montreal in 2025. She is the first left-hander to win a WTA 1000 title since Petra Kvitová in Miami in 2023, and the third Polish player to reach a WTA 1000 final, after Agnieszka Radwańska and Iga Świątek. The title is worth 1,000 ranking points and $665,000.
Her Route to the Title
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| First round | Mayar Sherif | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Second round | Marie Bouzková | 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 |
| Round of 16 | Iva Jović (10) | 6-4, 6-1 |
| Quarter-finals | Maria Sakkari | 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 |
| Semi-finals | Iga Świątek (7) | 7-5, 6-1 |
| Final | Sonay Kartal | 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
The semi-final against Świątek was the first top-10 win of her career. Wuhan was only her fourth WTA 1000 main draw, and her best result at that level before this week was the third round.
From No. 146 to the Top 20
Chwalińska started 2026 ranked No. 146 and had won four tour-level matches in her career before this season. She came through qualifying to reach the Roland-Garros final in June, where she lost to Mirra Andreeva, becoming only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final after Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open. She reached the Singapore semi-finals last month and has now won 18 tour-level matches this year. The Wuhan title lifts her to No. 11, her first time in the top 20.
Kartal’s Record Run
Kartal, ranked No. 170 and playing on a protected ranking after six months out with a back injury, became the lowest-ranked WTA 1000 finalist since the format began in 2009, passing Svetlana Kuznetsova, who was No. 153 when she reached the Cincinnati final in 2019. She beat Anhelina Kalinina, Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini, Elina Svitolina and Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(9), 7-6(5) on the way, and is only the second British woman to reach a WTA 1000 final, after Johanna Konta. Our story on her semi-final run has the background.
A Week of Upsets
It was the first Wuhan final between two players ranked outside the top 20. Both top seeds, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, lost in the second round, and the field had already lost Andreeva, Zheng Qinwen and Linda Nosková to withdrawals. A week earlier Zheng had won the China Open as world No. 54. The season now heads to the WTA Finals in Indian Wells from 8 to 15 November.
FAQ
Wuhan Open 2026 Final FAQs
Who won the Wuhan Open 2026?
Maja Chwalińska, who beat Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the final on 18 October.
Is it Chwalińska’s first title?
Yes. It is the first tour-level title of her career, and she is the fourth player since 2009 to win her first title at WTA 1000 level.
How far did Sonay Kartal go in Wuhan?
She reached the final as world No. 170, the lowest-ranked WTA 1000 finalist since 2009, before losing to Chwalińska.
How much did the Wuhan Open champion win?
$665,000 and 1,000 ranking points.
What is Chwalińska’s ranking after Wuhan?
She rises to No. 11, her first time in the top 20.
More Coverage
See Maja Chwalińska’s profile, Sonay Kartal’s profile and our Wuhan Open hub, with the list of past champions. The dates for the rest of the season are in the 2026 tennis calendar.