British star Sonay Kartal has described her journey to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open as one of the best weeks of her life, marking a significant milestone in her career. The 24-year-old achieved a remarkable victory over world No. 6 Elina Svitolina on Friday, showcasing her resilience after returning from a back injury.

Kartal, competing in only her third tournament since her injury, capitalized on her first match-point opportunity to secure a stunning win. Reflecting on her performance, she stated, "Definitely one of the best weeks of my life. You could say, results-wise, that is definitely the best for me so far."

This tournament represents Kartal's first advancement to the last four of a WTA 1000 event, following her breakthrough at Wimbledon last year. She expressed her satisfaction with maintaining consistency throughout the week, saying, "I'm very happy to be backing up the level each day."

In light of her success, Kartal mentioned plans for a couple of new tattoos, having previously canceled an appointment due to commitments with the Billie Jean King Cup. When asked about getting a tattoo if she won in Wuhan, she replied with a smile, "I would have to have a think. I can't make a rush decision."

Using a protected injury ranking, Kartal has surged from No. 170 to No. 87 in the live rankings, ensuring her position as the new British No. 2 behind Katie Boulter. Despite her struggles with back pain, she feels fit and ready to compete again.

Looking ahead, Kartal prepares to face Jelena Ostapenko, the world No. 34, in the semi-finals. The two players have previously met twice, with each winning one match. Kartal expressed excitement for the upcoming challenge, stating, "I feel it's going to be a completely different game style to the people that I've played the past few days. I'm ready for a long one if it's needed."