Kartal beats Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4 to reach Wuhan Open semi-finals

Sonay Kartal beat Elina Svitolina 6-2 2-6 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open, a WTA event staged in Wuhan, with the match on the Dongfeng Voyah Center Court. Svitolina, the Ukrainian fifth seed, levelled the contest by taking the second set, but Kartal regained control in the decider. According to Sky Sports, the result sends the Briton into the semi-finals, where Ostapenko awaits, and it is Kartal's first WTA 1000 semi-final. Sky Sports also reported that Kartal had already beaten Bencic, Paolini and Kalinina in the draw.

How did Kartal beat Svitolina set by set?

Kartal won the opening set 6-2 and took early control against the fifth seed. Svitolina then hit back to level the match, taking the second set, which finished 2-6 from Kartal's side. No set went to a tiebreak.

The decider went to Kartal 6-4, so the final result read 6-2 2-6 6-4 in Kartal's favour. NBC Sports and Sky Sports both published that scoreline, and both named Kartal as the winner and Svitolina as the beaten player.

Which round of the Wuhan Open was this match?

It was a quarter-final at the Wuhan Open, a WTA tournament that is not a Grand Slam. The match took place on the Dongfeng Voyah Center Court and finished as a completed result in Kartal's favour.

Because this was not the final, no champion had been decided yet. Sky Sports reported that Kartal beat Bencic, Paolini, Kalinina and Svitolina in Wuhan, with Svitolina the latest name on that list. The quarter-final stage is where Svitolina's tournament ended.

How were Svitolina and Kartal ranked going into the match?

Svitolina, from Ukraine, arrived as seed 5 and ranked 6, with 5024 ranking points.

Kartal had no seed or ranking in the data feed. Sky Sports said Kartal became the lowest-ranked player to reach the Wuhan semi-finals, and that Kartal had returned from a long back injury layoff. NBC Sports also reported on Kartal's results since that return.

What did the media say about Kartal's run?

Sky Sports reported that Kartal reached a semi-final at this level of the WTA tour for the first time, and that Kartal noted Svitolina's fighting spirit during the match. Sky Sports also noted that Kartal missed Grand Slam events this year.

NBC Sports noted that Svitolina also lost to Zheng Qinwen at the China Open, so Wuhan brought another defeat. Both outlets agreed on the scoreline and on who advanced to the semi-finals from the quarter-final.

Who will Kartal face in the semi-finals?

Sky Sports reported that Kartal will face Ostapenko in the semi-finals. Ostapenko has a forearm injury and withdrew from the doubles, according to the same outlet. That adds a fitness question to the semi-final.

NBC Sports reported that Ostapenko beat Shnaider 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 in the quarter-finals. That means Kartal faces an opponent who took the first set through a tiebreak last time out. In other quarter-finals, Swiatek beat Ann Li 6-4 6-1 and Chwalinska beat Sakkari 6-0 3-6 7-5.