“There are great things ahead of you”: Maja Chwalinska pays tribute to Kartal after Wuhan final

Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 18:30

Maja Chwalinska -Pologne at Roland Garros

Maja Chwalinska continued her breakthrough season by winning the Wuhan Open, capturing her first career title at WTA level after recovering from a set down to defeat Sonay Kartal in the final. The Polish player, who reached the Roland Garros final earlier this year, added another significant milestone to her season with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over the world No. 170.

The No. 16 seed needed two hours and 43 minutes to complete the comeback, overcoming a difficult start before taking control in the deciding set. She also had to negotiate a crucial moment at 4-4 in the second set and save three break points while serving for the championship, eventually winning the final four games to secure the trophy.

After the match, Chwalinska spoke about the significance of the achievement and her experience in Wuhan, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to win the title. Her comments reflected the importance of the result after a season in which her run to the Roland Garros final had raised expectations about her potential at the highest level.

"I'm obviously very pleased to win the title here," the new world No. 11 said in press conference. "It means a lot to me. I really am grateful for this moment. I had a great time here in Wuhan and I can't wait to come back here next year."

Chwalinska comes back from a set down to win maiden WTA 1000 title

Chwalinska's victory was built on her ability to recover after losing the opening set 6-2. Kartal had initially taken control of the final, leaving the Polish player needing to change the momentum of the match to keep her title hopes alive. Chwalinska responded by raising her level in the second set, eventually forcing a decider after navigating a critical phase at 4-4.

The deciding set proved more straightforward, as Chwalinska won the final four games to complete the comeback. Even while serving for the championship, she faced three break points but managed to save them and close out the match.

The victory gave her the first title of her career and reinforced the progress she had made since reaching the final at Roland Garros earlier in the season.

Maja Chwalinska of Poland at Roland Garros

The Wuhan triumph also placed Chwalinska in a select group of players to win their first WTA 1000 title. Since the format was introduced in 2009, she became the fourth player to claim a maiden title at this level, joining Naomi Osaka, who won Indian Wells in 2018, Bianca Andreescu, who triumphed at Indian Wells in 2019, and Victoria Mboko, who won in Montreal in 2025.

She was also the fourth player to win a maiden WTA 1000 title in 2026, following Karolina Muchova in Doha, Marta Kostyuk in Madrid and Zheng Qinwen in Beijing. For Chwalińska, the achievement offered further evidence that her performance in Paris was not an isolated breakthrough, but part of a sustained rise in her results against high-level opposition.

Chwalińska pays tribute to Kartal after Wuhan breakthrough

Chwalinska also used her championship speech to congratulate Kartal, acknowledging the British player's performance throughout the tournament and expressing confidence in her future. Despite the importance of her own victory, the Polish player made a point of recognising the quality of her opponent, who had reached the final before losing in three sets.

"First of all, congrats to Sonay for a great week. You're such an impressive player. I mean, I had a chance to watch a few of your matches, and I was very impressed and yeah, I wish you all the best, really. I'm sure there are great things ahead of you."

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Her victory was particularly significant given the difficult period she had experienced since her run to the Roland Garros final earlier in the year. Winning in Wuhan provided a concrete result to accompany the attention generated by her performance in Paris.

The title also gave Chwalinska a new milestone to build on as she continues her career on the WTA Tour. Having progressed from a breakthrough Grand Slam run to winning a WTA 1000 tournament, she has now demonstrated her ability to convert a deep run into a championship.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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