Maja Chwalińska rallied past former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 in Friday's 2026 Wuhan Open quarterfinal, scoring just her third career WTA semifinal with the win. The 25-year-old left-hander, a Roland Garros finalist earlier this year, now holds a 7-2 record on the Asian Swing and will enter the Top 20 for the first time when rankings update Monday.
Chwalińska Defends Late Surge from Sakkari in Quarterfinal
Chwalińska was clinical early, conceding just one point behind her first serve while Sakkari piled up 14 unforced errors across a one-sided opening set. Sakkari steadied in the second, though, firing off 17 winners against only eight errors to level the match.
Despite the shift, Chwalińska regrouped in the decider, saving four of five break points before sealing the two-hour, 35-minute contest at 7-5.
"It was such a physical match," Chwalińska said of the win. "I played her twice already and both the occasions were very, very tough."
The result gives Chwalińska her first semifinal on outdoor hard courts. Their head-to-head now sits at 2-1 in her favor, with both WTA wins scored in deciding sets, including a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback at the French Open.
She'll face Iga Świątek for a spot in the 2026 Wuhan Open final on Saturday.
