The Beijing leg of the WTA 1000 circuit saw another top seed bow out early on Sunday, as world number two Aryna Sabalenka was defeated just a day after world number one Elena Rybakina suffered a shocking loss. The 20‑year‑old Czech teenager Nikola Bartúková produced a solid performance, beating the four‑time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 6-3, and in doing so ensured that the tournament’s opening week would be without both of its highest‑ranked players. Rybakina's elimination on Saturday had already sent ripples through the draw, and Sabalenka’s departure added another unexpected twist to the Beijing event. The Belarusian, who entered the tournament with a recent history of near‑misses – most notably being denied a third consecutive US Open title by Rybakina in New York – was unable to find her rhythm.
She squandered five break‑point opportunities in the first set, a sign that her usual aggressive baseline game was being stifled by Bartúková’s consistent depth and placement. At 28, Sabalenka has never managed to get past the quarter‑finals in Beijing, a fact that seemed to weigh on her as she struggled to hold serve. "I was frustrated with my service game," she admitted after the match. "I couldn't find a good way of serving; I was struggling almost every game on serve." Despite the disappointment, she tried to put a positive spin on the experience, noting that she fought back after each break and that the first set featured "great points, great rallies." Bartúková, seeded 26th, will now move on to face Austria's 24‑year‑old Sinja Kraus, who had earlier dispatched Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4.
The Czech’s victory over Sabalenka marks a significant milestone in her young career, showcasing her ability to challenge the sport’s elite on a big stage. In other parts of the tournament, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva cruised into the fourth round with a convincing 6-4, 6-1 win over Polina Kudermetova. The French Open champion displayed a dominant serve, firing six aces and converting five of seven break‑point chances, wrapping up the match in just 68 minutes. Meanwhile, top seed Carlos Alcaraz continued his resurgence after a four‑month layoff due to a wrist injury.
In the Japan Open quarter‑finals, Alcaraz advanced to the semi‑finals after Denis Shapovalov was forced to retire with a hip injury while trailing 7-6 (7-4), 2-1. Alcaraz, who dropped serve three times in the opening set, expressed mixed feelings about the win. "It was a little bit frustrating with my serve.
I couldn't find a good way of serving," he said, but he also praised the quality of the points and rallies he produced. He added, "It's a shame that he had to pull out.
Going through to a semi‑final like this is not the way I wanted, but sometimes sports are tough. You have to accept it.
Hopefully he'll be able to play in Shanghai healthy." Alcaraz will now meet fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in the semi‑finals after Munar, a qualifier, defeated France's Kyrian Jacquet 6-4, 6-2. The Spaniard’s path to the latter stages of the Japan Open underscores his rapid return to form, and fans will be eager to see if he can capture another title this season.
The Beijing tournament has thus far been defined by unexpected exits and the emergence of younger talent. With both the world number one and number two out of the competition, the draw opens up dramatically for lower‑ranked players seeking a breakthrough. Bartúková’s victory over Sabalenka not only highlights her own progress but also signals a potential shift in the balance of power among the women’s game, where the next generation is beginning to assert itself against established stars. For viewers wanting to follow the action, live streams are available on NOW and the Sky Sports App, providing coverage of both the WTA China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.
The ongoing tournaments promise further surprises as the season moves toward its climax, with players jockeying for points ahead of the year‑end championships.