Elena Rybakina’s first appearance as the world number one ended in a shocking upset, as she was bested by the 118th‑ranked Alina Charaeva at the China Open on Saturday afternoon. The Kazakh‑born star had just claimed the top spot in the WTA rankings after her triumph at the US Open, her second Grand Slam title of the 2026 season, but the victory was short‑lived. Charaeva, playing under the Armenian flag and making her debut against a top‑20 opponent, delivered a performance that stunned the tennis world, winning 6‑3, 4‑6, 6‑3 and earning a place in the round of 32 where she will meet Britain’s Sonay Kartal. "I don’t have words," Charaeva exclaimed after the match, clearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of her achievement.
"It’s incredible. Of course Elena is an amazing player who has been dominant this season, winning two Grand Slams. For me it feels like a dream come true. I just tried to stay mentally tough and believed I could turn the tide in my favour.
Never stop believing, I guess!" Her comments captured the emotion of a young player who, until that day, had never faced a player inside the top 20. The victory not only marked a personal milestone but also signalled a potential new contender emerging on the WTA circuit.
While the upset dominated headlines, the tournament also featured several other notable matches. In Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz fought through a tense first‑set tiebreak to secure a 7‑6 (8‑6), 6‑1 win over Matteo Arnaldi, guaranteeing his spot in the Japan Open quarter‑finals.
Alcaraz, currently ranked third in the world, saved four set points after trailing 2‑5 in the tiebreak, eventually turning the momentum and taking the first set. He then elevated his level in the second set, breaking Arnaldi twice to close out the match. "I just tried to stay there, point after point," Alcaraz said post‑match.
"I changed my tactics at the right moment and it paid off. I’m just happy I got that first set. Matteo played great as well." The Spaniard’s next opponent will be world No. 46 Denis Shapovalov, who advanced after a hard‑fought three‑set victory over Alejandro Tabilo (7‑5, 3‑6, 6‑4).
Elsewhere in Tokyo, Czech hopeful Jiri Lehecka rallied from a set down to defeat France’s Ugo Humbert 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑4, earning a quarter‑final clash with Adolfo Daniel Vallejo Alvarez, the player who eliminated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. Back in Beijing, Alexander Zverev, the reigning US Open champion, breezed past wildcard Juncheng Shang 6‑0, 6‑3, setting up a high‑stakes quarter‑final against Novak Djokovic.
Zverev’s dominant performance underscored his resurgence after a disappointing second‑round exit at the US Open. Australian Alex de Minaur, who had also suffered an early US Open loss, bounced back with a three‑set win over France’s Quentin Halys, securing a quarter‑final meeting with Andrey Rublev. Both players are chasing vital Race to Turin points as they vie for a place in this year’s ATP Finals. Rublev, meanwhile, earned his quarter‑final berth by overcoming Roman Safiullin 6‑2, 3‑6, 6‑4, demonstrating his resilience after dropping the second set.
Daniil Medvedev continued his strong run, dispatching Jan‑Lennard Struff in straight sets and awaiting the winner of the Francisco Cerundolo versus Jakub Mensik encounter. On the women’s side, former US Open champion Coco Gauff returned from a three‑week break to claim a hard‑fought third‑round victory over world No. 66 Camila Osorio, 7‑6 (7‑4), 4‑6, 6‑2. Gauff survived a first‑set tiebreak, lost the second set after being broken at 4‑5, and then pulled away in the decider, despite Osorio saving two match points in the final game.
Gauff’s win sets up a showdown with China’s Xinran Sun. British hopeful Harriet Dart started brightly against 10th seed Iva Jovic, taking the opening set, but she could not sustain the momentum, eventually succumbing 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3.
After a disappointing last‑16 finish at the US Open, Iga Swiatek returned to competition and displayed why she remains a dominant force. She converted five break points to dispatch China’s Xinyu Gao 6‑2, 6‑3, showcasing a blend of power and precision that left little doubt about her intent to reclaim the top spot. Elina Svitolina also demonstrated tenacity, overcoming a first‑set loss to Czech Katerina Siniakova with a 1‑6, 6‑4, 6‑2 comeback, securing her progression to the next round. The China Open and Japan Open events continue to provide a rich tapestry of storylines, from surprise upsets to seasoned champions reasserting their dominance.
Fans can follow the action live via streaming platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offer contract‑free access to the ATP Japan Open, WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters. The tournaments not only offer thrilling tennis but also crucial ranking points that will shape the remainder of the season and determine the final lineup for the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin.