London [UK], October 17: Sonay Kartal thumped two-time grand slam finalist Jasmine Paolini to reach the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open.
Kartal has made a brilliant return from six months out with a back injury and dropped only two games in a 6-2, 6-0 victory against 15th seed Paolini.
It was an error-strewn performance from former French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini and Kartal took full advantage, winning the final 11 games. The result equals the 24-year-old's best performance at a WTA 1000 tournament - the top level of the women's tour - with Kartal also having reached the last eight in Beijing last year.
"From my side it was a pretty flawless performance so I'm very happy with that one," said Kartal in her on-court interview.
Her performances this week have put the Brighton player on the verge of a swift return to the top 100 and she will next face fifth seed Elina Svitolina.
"I'm just growing in confidence with every match that I'm playing and, a scoreline like that, I'm going to go into tomorrow feeling pretty confident," added Kartal.
Seventh seed Iga Swiatek is yet to drop a set this week and she saw off American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-4.
Surprise French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska is also through to the quarter-finals after a 6-4, 6-1 win over 10th seed Iva Jovic while Diana Shnaider defeated sixth seed and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-3.
Source: Qatar Tribune
