Kartal reaches first WTA 1000 semi-final with Svitolina upset

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 16 Oct, 09:44 · Archive

British tennis player Sonay Kartal defeated world number 6 Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4 to reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final.

Sonay Kartal continued her remarkable recovery from injury by reaching the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open after defeating Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4 in the quarter-finals. The 24-year-old had missed six months with a back stress fracture before returning last month at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Ranked 170th in the world, she is the lowest-ranked player to reach the Wuhan semi-finals since the tournament began in 2014.

Kartal's run in Wuhan has been striking. She has beaten world number 48 Anhelina Kalinina, ninth seed Belinda Bencic, Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini, and now fifth seed Svitolina. Speaking on court after her victory, Kartal said: 'Despite winning the first set pretty comfortably, I knew what a great fighter she is, so I knew that until the very last point was played, I was never safe.' She added that she was 'breaking new ground' by reaching a WTA 1000 semi-final for the first time.

Kartal will face former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday for a place in Sunday's final. The victory means she will break back into the top 100 rankings, rising to number 87.

Kartal reaches first WTA 1000 semi-final with Svitolina upset — Image: Independent Sport

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How it is being reported

Sonay Kartal beats World No 6 to continue superb Wuhan Open runThe 24-year-old Kartal reached the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career after beating Elina Svitolina for the best victory of her careerIndependent Sport · 16 Oct, 09:32
Britain's Kartal upsets Svitolina to storm into Wuhan Open semi-finalsBritain's Sonay Kartal has stormed into the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open - a WTA 1000 event - in just her third tournament back from injury.Sky Sports · 16 Oct, 09:12
Kartal shocks Svitolina to reach first WTA 1000 semi-finalHighlights of the Wuhan Open quarter-final between Elina Svitolina and Sonay Kartal.Sky Sports · 16 Oct, 09:12

In this story: Sonay Kartal · Elina Svitolina · Jelena Ostapenko · Wuhan Open · Belinda Bencic · Jasmine Paolini

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