Wuhan Open 2026: Sonay Kartal upsets Belinda Bencic to reach third round
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Sonay Kartal produced one of the results of the Wuhan Open so far, knocking out ninth seed Belinda Bencic in a comfortable straight-sets victory.
Kartal defeated the 2025 Wimbledon semi-finalist and world No.12 Bencic 6-0, 7-5 in an hour and 34 minutes.
The British star dropped to world No.170 this week after returning from a long spell out with a back injury, but has now made the third round at back-to-back WTA 1000 events.
This was the sixth top-20 win of Kartal’s career so far and her second-best result by ranking after her win over Mirra Andreeva at Beijing last year.
Kartal will play 15th seed and former Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini in the third round.
“It was a super high level from me right from the start,” Kartal said. “A match like that, it’s always tough to keep the scoreboard pressure when you come out firing right from the start.
“I’m very happy with how I played in that match and the composure. I think I saw snippets from my tennis six months ago.”
Kartal is playing just her third tournament since returning from a six-month absence from the WTA Tour, but the early signs have been hugely encouraging and the 24-year-old is quickly getting back to her best.
“There were a lot of conversations about the comeback and where I was going to start it,” she added.
“I think I wanted to go straight in as I always trusted I would get my level back, it was just about when. I did a lot of things right today but there is still a long way to go. I’m happy to be back and I’m feeling good.”
The Brighton native couldn’t have asked for a better start against the 2021 Olympic gold medalist. She came flying out of the gates and broke the Swiss No.1 in the opening game.
Kartal didn’t drop a point on her first serve (12/12) in the first set and sealed a bagel against the ninth seed in just 27 minutes.
Bencic raised her game in the second, and it became a much more even contest. Both players failed to capitalise on break advantages before Kartal struck at a pivotal moment at 5-5.
Keen to avoid a third set, the Brit converted on her third break point of the game before closing out the win on serve.
Kartal and Paolini will meet for the first time in the third round of the Wuhan Open. The match is set to take place on Friday 16 October; timings and schedule are still to be confirmed.
