Sonay Kartal handed Belinda Bencic a 6-0 7-5 defeat at the Wuhan Open, ending the Swiss world number 12’s run in a match that confirmed Kartal’s strong return from injury.
Kartal, the British player who has dropped to 170th in the rankings after a six-month absence, dominated the first set with a flawless 6-0 sweep before holding off a late fightback from Bencic to close out the second set 7-5. The 24-year-old has now won four of her five matches since returning to the WTA Tour earlier this season.
Earlier in the tournament, Kartal beat Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina, setting up a clash for a quarter-final spot against either Italy’s 15th seed Jasmine Paolini or 20-year-old Czech Nikola Bartunkova. With her recent form, Kartal is showing no signs of hesitation despite the lengthy break.
Kartal’s injury troubles started in March when she suffered a stress fracture in her back. The injury forced her to miss three of the year’s four Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, where she had reached the fourth round the previous year. Before the injury, she was climbing steadily, reaching a career-high ranking of 44 in 2023.
Her return has been impressive. Last month, she played for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Then, at the Beijing Open last week, she defeated China’s 31st seed Wang Xinyu to reach the third round.
Kartal’s run at Wuhan adds to her growing momentum. She had won her opening match against Kalinina before facing Bencic, who was seeded ninth in the tournament. The victory over Bencic is her most significant since the injury, given the Swiss player’s top-15 status.
Meanwhile, former world number one Iga Swiatek also progressed at Wuhan, recording her 40th win of the season with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Polish compatriot Magdalena Frech. Swiatek’s consistent form contrasts with Kartal’s recent comeback but underlines the competitiveness of the tournament.
Kartal’s win over Bencic is a clear sign that she has recovered well from her back injury and is ready to challenge higher-ranked players again. She showed both the power to dominate and the resilience to close out a tight second set, a mix that will be necessary if she is to move deeper into the draw at Wuhan.
Her next opponent will be decided when Paolini and Bartunkova meet, with Kartal poised to play the winner in the quarter-finals. The Briton’s run at the Wuhan Open continues to draw attention as she works to regain her place among the sport’s elite.
According to BBC Sports.