Maja Chwalinska came from a set down to lift the Wuhan Open title, beating Sonay Kartal to claim her maiden WTA 1000 crown. 

Chwalinska needed two hours and 45 minutes to confirm her 2-6 6-4 6-2 triumph, which saw her become the first Polish player to win the tournament. 

The 16th seed was, however, put on the back foot early on by Kartal. The Briton won back-to-back games against the serve, which saw her surge into a comfortable 4-1 lead. 

Kartal missed two more break-point opportunities in the sixth game, but she was able to take the opening set after getting the better of Chwalinska's serve once again.

Kartal carried her momentum into the second set with another early break, but Chwalinska was able to respond.

Chwalinska and Kartal traded breaks, and a third consecutive game against the serve went the former's way to ensure the match would go the distance.

From there, Chwalinska took control and cruised to victory, reeling off the final four games of the third set and sealing the trophy when Karal's forehand landed long.

CHAMPION IN WUHAN Maja Chwalinska seals the victory and claims her first WTA 1000 title after defeating Kartal in three sets 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. #dongfengvoyahwuhanopen https://t.co/UZOeMbcJKY

— wta (@WTA) October 18, 2026

Chwalinska's breakout season reaches new heights

After reaching the French Open final before going on to lose against Mirra Andreeva, Chwalinska has found it difficult to recapture the form she showed at Roland-Garros, but she enjoyed a memorable week in Wuhan. 

Since the format's introduction in 2009, Chwalinska is the fourth player to win a maiden WTA-level title at a WTA 1000 event, after Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and Victoria Mboko, with the likes of Iva Jovic, Maria Sakkari and Iga Swiatek dispatched during her run. 

Chwalinska also became the third left-hander to claim a WTA 1000 title since the format's introduction in 2009, after Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Petra Kvitova (nine titles). 

She will now turn her attention to the Ningbo Open, where she faces qualifier and compatriot Katarzyna Kawa in the first round, and she will be hoping to add another title in China to continue her fine form in 2026.