Sonay Kartal achieved a remarkable milestone by advancing to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open, defeating world No 6 Elina Svitolina in a thrilling match that ended with scores of 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. This victory marks the best of Kartal's career, showcasing her resilience after a six-month hiatus due to a back injury.

At just 24 years old, Kartal made history as the lowest-ranked player, currently at 170, to reach the semi-finals since the tournament's inception in 2014. This impressive feat follows her successful run where she also defeated ninth seed Belinda Bencic and former Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini to secure her place in the quarter-finals.

Kartal's determination was evident as she claimed her second top-10 victory, sealing the match on her first match point against Svitolina. Reflecting on her performance, she stated, "Despite winning the first set pretty comfortably, I know what a great fighter she is and I knew until the last point was played I was never safe."

Looking ahead, Kartal is set to face former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals on Saturday. Her success in Wuhan not only highlights her comeback but also guarantees her return to the world’s top 100, a significant achievement after her injury struggles.