Kartal's first WTA 1000 final ended in disappointment Sunday at the Wuhan Open. Chwalińska beat her 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in straight sets, denying the British player the breakthrough title she was chasing.
Kartal came into the match looking to claim her first title at the 1000 level, tennis's second-highest tier. Instead, Chwalińska controlled the opening set and closed out the match decisively in the third. The Polish player's aggressive play proved too much down the stretch.
For Kartal, it's a tough loss in what could've been a career-defining moment. She'd made the final through solid play all week but couldn't sustain it when it mattered most. Chwalińska, meanwhile, keeps her momentum rolling with a significant scalp.