We Speak Sports

Chwalinska’s Dream Week: First Career Title Is a WTA 1000 Crown in Wuhan

Maja Chwalinska began the year ranked No. 146 hoping to crack the top 100. Instead, the Polish left-hander beat Iga Swiatek and won the Wuhan Open — her first title, at a WTA 1000.

Published

6 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Maja Chwalinska with the Wuhan Open trophy

Maja Chwalinska started the year ranked No. 146 with a simple goal: break into the top 100. On Sunday she smashed straight through it, beating Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win the Wuhan Open — the first title of her career, won at a WTA 1000.

The final, at two hours and 43 minutes the second-longest WTA 1000 title match of the season, flipped completely. Chwalinska trailed by a set and 2-0 before converting her fifth break point to get back on serve, then broke for 3-2 in the decider and did not lose another game, saving three break points as she served out the biggest win of her life. Kartal actually hit more winners, 32 to 23, but also more errors, 36 to 27.

Her week included wins over Iva Jovic and Maria Sakkari and, in the semifinals, a 7-5, 6-1 victory over world No. 9 Iga Swiatek — the first Top 10 win of her career, in the first all-Polish WTA semifinal of the Open Era. She saved two set points from 3-5 down in that opening set.

Chwalinska is only the fourth player to win her maiden title at WTA 1000 level, after Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and Victoria Mboko, and the first left-hander to win one since Petra Kvitova in Miami in 2023. She is the third Polish woman to win a WTA 1000, after Agnieszka Radwanska and Swiatek. The title brings $665,000, 1,000 ranking points, and a rise to a career-high No. 11 in the world.

It has not been a straight climb. Chwalinska reached the Roland Garros final as a qualifier in June, losing to Mirra Andreeva, then endured a rough summer — she injured herself on match point in a Wimbledon first-round loss and went out in the first round of the US Open. She reset during the Asian swing and went 9-2 across Singapore and China.

‘I really had to find the joy again,’ she said. ‘What I’m proud of is the fighting spirit.’ Chinese fans, meanwhile, have given her a nickname: Moon sister.

There was history on the other side of the net, too. Kartal, the world No. 170, was the lowest-ranked WTA 1000 finalist ever, playing her first event back after six months out with a back stress fracture. She climbs 121 places to No. 49.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Up Next

World No. 152 Clement Chidekh, a Qualifier, Storms Into Brussels Quarterfinals

Don't Miss

At 20, Rafael Jodar Becomes the Youngest Shanghai Finalist in History

Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

3 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.