In a surprising turn of events at the China Open in Beijing, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated just a day after the tournament’s top seed, world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, suffered an unexpected defeat.
The Belarusian, who entered the competition as the second favorite, was ousted by 20‑year‑old Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova, who secured a straight‑sets victory of 6-4, 6-3. This result means that both of the tournament’s highest‑ranked players have now exited in the opening week, leaving the draw wide open for the remaining competitors. Rybakina’s loss on Saturday had already sent shockwaves through the event, and Sabalenka’s subsequent departure only heightened the drama. The Belarusian, a four‑time Grand Slam champion, had been hoping to bounce back after a disappointing finish at the US Open, where Rybakina herself prevented Sabalenka from achieving a historic three‑peat.
In Beijing, Sabalenka struggled from the start, squandering five break‑point opportunities in the first set and never finding her rhythm on serve. Her performance was hampered by a series of missed chances and an inability to convert crucial points, culminating in a decisive loss that underscored her ongoing challenges at this particular venue. Historically, Sabalenka has never advanced beyond the quarter‑finals at the China Open, a pattern that continued this year. The 28‑year‑old Belarusian’s early exit adds to a list of unfulfilled runs at the WTA 1000 event, despite her impressive resume that includes titles in Madrid, Rome, Berlin, Wimbledon, Toronto, Cincinnati, and a recent final appearance in Beijing.
Her recent form has been a mixture of highs and lows, and this defeat serves as a reminder of the fine margins that separate victory from defeat on the professional circuit. Bartunkova, the 26th seed, will now move on to face Austria’s 24‑year‑old Sinja Kraus, who herself produced a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win over Dayana Yastremska earlier on Sunday.
The Czech’s triumph over Sabalenka not only marks a personal milestone but also signals her potential to cause further upsets as the tournament progresses. Meanwhile, fifth‑seed Mirra Andreeva advanced comfortably to the fourth round after dispatching Polina Kudermetova with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline, showcasing her own rising form.
Andreeva’s performance was particularly notable for her aggressive serving, as she delivered six aces and capitalized on five of seven break‑point chances, wrapping up the match in just 68 minutes. Her dominance highlights the depth of talent present in the women’s draw, where young players are increasingly challenging established stars. On the men’s side, top seed Carlos Alcaraz continued his strong comeback from a four‑month wrist injury lay‑off by advancing to the semi‑finals of the Japan Open, a tournament that runs concurrently with the China Open. Alcaraz’s progress was aided by the retirement of Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who withdrew due to a hip injury while trailing 7-6 (7-4), 2-1.
Alcaraz reflected on his own serve struggles during the match, admitting that he found it difficult to settle into a comfortable rhythm and dropped serve three times in the opening set. Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with his resilience, noting that he managed to recover after each break and produce high‑quality points and rallies.
Alcaraz also voiced disappointment at the circumstances of his semi‑final berth, emphasizing that he would have preferred to earn his spot through a full match rather than a retirement. He expressed empathy for Shapovalov, hoping the Canadian would recover in time for the upcoming Shanghai Masters.
In the semi‑finals, Alcaraz is set to meet fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar, who earned his place by defeating France’s Kyrian Jacquet 6-4, 6-2. The broader context of the tournament sees both the WTA and ATP events drawing significant attention, with live streaming available on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports App. Fans can follow the action from the China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, ensuring that the excitement of high‑level tennis remains accessible despite the unexpected early exits of some of the sport’s biggest names. Overall, the China Open this week has been defined by surprise results and the emergence of younger talent ready to seize the moment.
With the top two seeds already out, the remaining field has a genuine opportunity to claim a prestigious title, and the upcoming matches promise to deliver further intrigue and high‑stakes competition.