Sonay Kartal had a difficult decision to make when she felt ready to rejoin the WTA Tour, having not played for six months because of a debilitating back injury.

Did the 24-year-old Briton ease herself in more gently at lower-ranked tournaments?

Or did the former world number 54 use a protected injury ranking to enter WTA 1000 events in China, where the world's best players compete at the pinnacle of the women's tour?

Kartal chose the latter option - and it is paying off handsomely.

On Friday, she beat world number six Elina Svitolina at the Wuhan Open to reach the first WTA 1000 semi-final of her career.

"I didn't expect to be back at this level this quickly – I don't think many people did," Kartal said.

"I knew it would be a tough choice. I didn't know how I was going to be on the match court – it's very easy to train well but the match scenario is completely different.

"I decided to throw myself in the deep end and play the best players in the world.

"It's worked out good so far. The risk has paid off."

Patience has been paramount for Kartal, who announced herself to the wider British public by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, as she dealt with a stress fracture in her back.

Kartal had earned impressive victories over 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys and 2024 US Open semi-finalist Emma Navarro at Indian Wells in March, but was forced to retire from a fourth-round meeting with now world number one Elena Rybakina.

The issue proved more serious than first thought, leading to the longest absence from competitive action of Kartal's career.

But she has returned to the WTA Tour playing like she has never been away.

Known for her consistent hitting from the baseline, supreme athleticism and tenacity, Kartal added Ukraine's Svitolina to her list of high-profile victories in Wuhan with a 6-2 2-6 6-4 triumph.

Kartal beat Italian 15th seed Jasmine Paolini - a Wimbledon and French Open finalist in 2024 - in the last 16, backing up the win over Swiss ninth seed Belinda Bencic - who won the Tokyo Olympic title in 2021 - in the second round.

Since returning to competitive action little more than three weeks ago - when she represented Great Britain at the BJK Cup - Kartal has won six of her eight matches.

Next up is 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko, who came through a tense opening set to beat 11th seed Diana Shnaider 7-6 (8-6) 6-1.

Kartal is only the second British player, after Johanna Konta, to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final since the format's introduction in 2009.

"It's one of the best tennis weeks of my life - results-wise you could say it is the best," Kartal said.

"I'm very happy to be back at this level. It's easy to come out and play a blinder in one match, but I'm happy I have kept this consistency."

Kartal had not dropped a set during her run to the Wuhan quarter-finals, and she broke Svitolina early in the first to start on a positive note.

Svitolina then called for a medical timeout for treatment on her right arm, but she came back strong to take the contest to a decider.

The two players were evenly matched in the third set but it was Kartal who managed to break Svitolina's serve at 5-4 and book her place in the last four.

Speaking on court after her victory, Kartal said she knew "what a great fighter" Svitolina is, so she "was never safe" in the match.

"It was solid composure from me throughout," she added.

"I love playing here and on this court. The atmosphere was amazing, so big thank you to the crowd."

In the other quarter-finals, Polish 16th seed Maja Chwalinska beat Greek Maria Sakkari, while American Ann Li takes on six-time Grand Slam winner and seventh seed Iga Swiatek.