China Open 2026: Sonay Kartal eases past 31st seed to reach third round in Beijing
• 2 minute read
Britain’s Sonay Kartal is into the third round of the China Open for the second successive year after defeating 31st seed Wang Xinyu.
Kartal backed up her first round victory with another confident display over the Chinese star, coming through 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 20 minutes.
The China Open marks the first WTA Tour-level tournament Kartal has competed in since March, with the 24-year-old having spent the last six months sidelined due to a back injury.
Her second round victory moves Kartal one step closer to matching her quarter-final run in Beijing 12 months ago, where she enjoyed her best result at WTA 1000 level.
Wang made a strong start in front of her home crowd, breaking in the third game after Kartal sent a forehand long. However, the Brit responded immediately, breaking back before reeling off four of the next five games to seal the opening set.
From there, Kartal took control. The world No.129, who reached the quarter-finals of the China Open last year, continued to impress on return, winning 55% of return points (35/64) across the match and breaking serve three times in the second set.
The Brighton-born star converted her first match point at 5-2 after coming out on top in a gripping 15-shot rally, forcing an error from Wang, who sent a backhand volley into the net to seal victory.
The victory sets up an unexpected third round meeting with Alina Charaeva. The Armenian, ranked world No.118, produced one of the shocks of the tournament by defeating world No.1 and reigning US Open champion Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
It will mark a career-first meeting between Kartal and Charaeva.
Elsewhere, Harriet Dart put up a strong fight against 10th seed Iva Jovic, but missed out in a tight three-set battle 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The Brit broke the American twice on her way to taking a one set lead, but Jovic raised her level in the closing stages to claim the second and third sets and book her place in round three.
British No.1 Katie Boulter also bowed out in the second round after a 7-6(3), 6-1 defeat to Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova. She will now turn her attention to the final WTA 1000 event of the season in Wuhan, where she is set to compete in qualifying.
How to watch Sonay Kartal at the China Open
Kartal will play Charaeva on Monday 5 October. You can watch her in action at the China Open live and exclusively on Sky Sports Tennis and NOW.
