Sonay Kartal Stuns Belinda Bencic to Reach Wuhan Open Last 16

Posted : 14 October 2026

British tennis player Sonay Kartal continued her impressive return from injury with a stunning victory over ninth seed Belinda Bencic at the Wuhan Open. The 24-year-old defeated the Swiss star 6-0, 7-5, demonstrating that she is gradually rediscovering her best form after spending six months on the sidelines.

Kartal once climbed to a career-high ranking of 44 in the world but has since dropped to 170th following a back injury that disrupted her season. After returning to competition with Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals last month, she reached the third round of the Beijing Open before continuing her winning run in Wuhan.

Her triumph over world number 12 Bencic, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, ranks among the biggest victories of Kartal's career based on her opponent's ranking. She dominated the opening set without dropping a game before facing a tougher challenge in the second, where she maintained her composure to secure the match in straight sets.

Speaking after the victory, Kartal said she had always believed she could recover her previous level, although she had been uncertain how quickly that would happen. She expressed satisfaction with her performance but acknowledged that maintaining consistency over an extended period remains her biggest challenge. The Briton added that she was pleased to be back competing and feeling physically well.

Kartal's comeback is particularly encouraging given the timing of her injury. She suffered a stress fracture in her back in March, forcing her to miss three of the four Grand Slam tournaments this season, including Wimbledon. Before the setback, she had recorded notable wins over American players Emma Navarro and Madison Keys at Indian Wells, underlining her potential to compete against top-ranked opponents.

Her recent results suggest that she is regaining confidence and match sharpness. After returning to action last month, Kartal reached the third round in Beijing and has now continued that progress in Wuhan, winning four of her five matches since returning to the WTA Tour.

The British player will next face 15th seed Jasmine Paolini for a place in the quarter-finals. Another victory would further strengthen Kartal's comeback and provide a significant boost as she looks to climb back towards the top 50.

Meanwhile, former world number one Iga Swiatek also progressed in Wuhan, defeating fellow Pole Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-1 to record her 40th victory of the season. The six-time Grand Slam champion remains focused on securing qualification for the season-ending WTA Finals.

Sonay Kartal Stuns Belinda Bencic to Reach Wuhan Open Last 16

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