Britain’s Sonay Kartal missed out on what would have been the biggest title of her career as she faded in a gripping Wuhan Open final against French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska.

Kartal, 24, was bidding to lift the trophy in only her third event since returning from a six-month absence caused by a back injury.

But an extraordinary week seemed to catch up with Kartal as she ran out of steam – physically and mentally – in a 2-6 6-4 6-2 defeat.

Kartal was playing in just the 10th match of her impressive comeback and was attempting to become the first Briton to win a WTA 1,000 title since Johanna Konta in 2017.

Ranked 170th in the world at the start of the event, Kartal reached Sunday’s final by seeing off a host of notable opponents, including current top-10 players and former major champions.

However, Poland’s Chwalinska, who made a shock run to this year’s Roland Garros final, dragged Kartal into a brutal battle and ultimately got the better of it.

Kartal dominated the first set and led by a break in the second before Chwalinska turned momentum in her favour.

Chwalinska, 25, felt a few nerves as she closed in on her first WTA 1,000 title, but took her third championship point when Kartal hammered a forehand long.

Despite losing the final, Kartal has enjoyed a transformational week which even she did not see coming.

On Monday, Kartal will climb to 50th in the world rankings – just below her career high – and become the British number one for the first time.