Kartal hails mentality after 'dream come true' run to Wuhan Open final

Britain's Sonay Kartal says making her maiden WTA 1000 final at the Wuhan Open is a "dream come true," adding that the mental side of sport is "one of my strongest assets."

Kartal became only the second British woman, after Johanna Konta (Beijing 2016, Miami 2017, Rome 2019), to reach a WTA 1000 final with a stunning 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (7-5) victory over Jelena Ostapenko.

The 24-year-old, playing in only her third tournament since returning from a back injury, saved multiple set points to punish Ostapenko, despite the Latvian hitting an astonishing 50 winners in the match.

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Kartal will take on Maja Chwalinska in Sunday's final, live on Sky Sports Tennis from 11.30am, after the French Open finalist upset fellow Pole and former world No 1 Iga Swiatek 7-5 6-1.

"Today was a dream come true," Kartal told media.

"I've been shooting to get this far in one of these events for a very long time and to be able to do it this fast after so long out, is special.

"I think for me to have had in my box today all the people that got me feeling fit and ready to go and injury-free, it's a special moment for me and a special moment for the rest of my team."

Currently 170th in the WTA rankings, Kartal - the lowest-ranked player to reach the final in Wuhan - will break inside the top 50 and become the new British No 1

Since the format's introduction in 1990, Kartal has become just the second player to defeat five former finalists en route to a WTA-1000 final, after Naomi Osaka in Montreal in 2005.

'I've been underdog in every match here'

Her victory over Ostapenko extended a remarkable series of wins against former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, ex-Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini, and world No 6 Elina Svitolina.

"I think in every match, I've kind of been the underdog in this event," she added. "So I think the only pressure is kind of the pressure that I'm putting on myself.

"Regardless of how long I spent out, I still expect to offer a good performance and I'm very proud of what I've managed to achieve this week.

"There's a lot of first-time things that I've managed to do. So with each match, I've grown in confidence, and the atmosphere today was amazing.

"It's a special feeling to walk out onto that court. The battle was a true battle, it's what I expected. And I'm very proud of just how I handled the occasion and everything that was going on in the match."

'The mental side of sport one of my strongest assets'

After reaching the fourth round of Indian Wells in March, Kartal missed three of this year's four Grand Slams, including Wimbledon after six months out with a stress fracture in her back, returning last month at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

Previously ranked as high as No 44 in the world, she showed positive signs by reaching the third round in Beijing earlier this month, but scarcely could have expected such a level of success so soon.

"I think mentally, it is one of my biggest assets on the tennis court. I think I managed to stay very calm in a lot of situations that can probably get a little heated and you can get frustrated with.

"I just really try and use that to my advantage. I can maybe see her getting a bit upset and emotional on the other side, so I know at that point it's time for me to just knuckle down and not let her distract me.

"But yeah, I've been lucky mentally, I think a lot of players have to work on it, but for me, it's just something that's always been ingrained in me.

"I think also having no pressure this week has obviously helped, and with each win, you just gain more confidence. I think this week there's been an accumulation of a lot of good things that have helped me keep my composure."

Fleming: Kartal playing the tennis of her life

Sky Sports Tennis' Colin Fleming on Sonay Kartal:

"Her ability to stay in the present got her through. She kept cool to ultimately outlast Ostapenko, who hit 50 winners past her and still couldn't win a set.

"Just a brilliant achievement and the run doesn't stop here. She's playing the tennis of her life and she's got every chance of getting her hands on the title.

"It's just so impressive the way she takes it all in her stride. Fascinating to hear her say this was a win for her mentality because it did carry her across the line in both sets when Ostapenko was losing it really.

"Kartal was there, composed, and ready to take her chances when it came. Every reason for me to think she's going to play a good match in the final. I'm not saying she's going to win but that's exciting to know.

"I have full confidence she's going to handle that occasion, play her tennis, which has been exceptional this week, and assuming she does that she'll give herself every chance."

Watch Sonay Kartal versus Maja Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open final live on Sky Sports Tennis from 11.30am on Sunday. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and through the Sky Sports App.