Maja Chwalinska clinched the first title of her career after defeating Sonay Kartal in the Wuhan Open final.
In the last WTA 1000 matchup of the 2026 season, Chwalinska came back from a set down to defeat Britain’s Kartal, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Pole, who defeated compatriot Iga Swiatek in the semifinals of the Wuhan Open, will rise to a career-high ranking of 11th in the world with her triumph.
Chwalinska started the year 146th in the world, but rose to prominence after reaching the French Open final earlier this season, which saw her skyrocket up the rankings.
Maja Chwalinska completes rare feat with triumph in Wuhan
Since the format’s introduction in 2009, Chwalinska is just the fourth player to win her maiden tour-level title at a WTA 1000 tournament, according to Opta Ace. The 25-year-old joins Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and Victoria Mboko on the list of players to complete the rare feat.
Chwalinska has also become only the third left-hander to win a WTA 1000 title after Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Petra Kvitova. Her title-winning run came in just the fourth WTA 1000 campaign of her career.
All four of those campaigns have come in 2026, the first of which was at the Canadian Open, following her ranking increase after Roland Garros. Chwalinska was seeded 18th in Toronto, but lost in her opening match of the event to Australian star Talia Gibson.
Chwalinska then earned her first WTA 1000 win at the Cincinnati Open, but was eliminated in the third round. Chwalinska was knocked out in her opening match at the 2026 China Open.
Nine different winners at WTA 1000 events this season
Chwalinska’s victory at the Wuhan has confirmed that there has been nine different title winners at WTA 1000 events this season. Karolina Muchova won the first such title of the year at the Qatar Open, and Jessica Pegula clinched the trophy in Dubai.
Former world number one Aryna Sabalenka was the only player to win more than one WTA 1000 title this season, having completed the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami. Marta Kostyuk won in Madrid, Elina Svitolina emerged victorious in Rome and Swiatek secured the title at the Canadian Open.
Home hopes came out on top in Cincinnati and Beijing, with Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng winning the two titles, respectively. Despite being ranked first in the world currently, Elena Rybakina has not managed to get her hands on a WTA 1000 title in 2026.