Katarzyna Kawa advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo, China, securing a career-high ranking of No. 106 in the world, Przegląd Sportowy reported. The 33-year-old Polish  tennis player won the qualifying rounds before defeating higher-ranked opponents in the main draw, including Swiss Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, before exiting the tournament against world No. 1 Elena Rybakina.

Following her run through five matches in Ningbo, Kawa held a 128th-week ranking and will jump 22 spots to sit just outside the top 100 women’s tennis players. The quarterfinal appearance in China marks a milestone for the veteran player, representing her first career singles quarterfinal in WTA tour events outside of Grand Slam tournaments, according to  Sport Wprost.

Tough Three-Set Battle Against Rybakina Ends Quarterfinal Run

Kawa’s run in Ningbo came to an end in the quarterfinals against Elena Rybakina, who competes for Kazakhstan. Rybakina secured a 6:1, 3:6, 6:1 victory after Kawa managed to take the second set off the top-seeded player.

Earlier in the week, Kawa defeated Ukraine’s Daria Snigur and notched a straight-sets win over 14th-ranked Belinda Bencic 7:5, 6:2.

Withdrawal from Guangzhou Open Prioritizes Rest Before Chennai

Following her grueling schedule in Ningbo, Kawa withdrew from the upcoming WTA 250 tournament in Guangzhou (Kanton), where she had been scheduled to face Czech player Linda Fruhvirtova in the first round of qualifying.

Kawa addressed her tournament schedule and recent performances in a statement posted to her social media channels:

Kawa stated in her social media posts that she appreciates her current position and the path that brought her there, noting that while she doesn’t always win, it’s a great satisfaction to feel she’s finding her feet at the highest level, with their work translating into competition and results. She mentioned it’s time for rest and she’s looking forward to the next chapters, with the next stop being Chennai.

With Kawa’s withdrawal, compatriot Magda Linette remains the sole Polish representative in the main draw at Guangzhou, while Japanese player Mei Yamaguchi filled the qualifying spot left vacant in the bracket, per SportoweFakty.

Next Steps in India at the Chennai Open

After taking a scheduled break to recover from her matches in Ningbo, Kawa’s next tournament appearance will take place in India. The WTA 250 Chennai Open is scheduled to run from November 2 through November 8, giving the Polish player nearly two weeks to rest and prepare before returning to tour competition.