Elena Rybakina’s first appearance on the court since she ascended to the top of the women’s rankings ended in a shock loss that sent ripples through the tennis world. The Kazakh star, fresh from capturing her second Grand Slam title of 2026 at the US Open, entered the China Open as the newly crowned world No. 1, only to be beaten 6-3, 4-6, 3-6 by Alina Charaeva, a player ranked No.
118 who had never before faced an opponent inside the top‑20. The upset not only halted Rybakina’s momentum but also highlighted the depth and unpredictability of today’s game.
Charaeva, representing Armenia, approached the match with a fearless mindset. In post‑match interviews she admitted she was initially at a loss for words, then added, "It’s incredible. Elena is a phenomenal player, and she’s been dominant this season, winning two majors. 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 victory set up a round‑of‑32 encounter with Britain’s rising talent Sonay Kartal, promising another intriguing clash.
The China Open also featured a series of compelling narratives beyond the women’s draw. In Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz fought through a tense first‑set tiebreak to secure a 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win over Matteo Arnaldi, earning a place in the quarter‑finals of the Japan Open. Alcaraz, currently world No. 3, was down 2‑5 in the tiebreak and faced four set points before he reversed the situation, ultimately taking the set and then dominating the second set with two breaks of serve.
"I just tried to stay there, point after point," Alcaraz explained. "I changed how I played until that moment and it worked out. I’m just happy I got that first set.
Matteo was playing great." Across the same tournament, Jiri Lehecka staged a comeback victory, overturning a 5-7 first set loss to defeat Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4 and advance to a quarter‑final against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo Alvarez, who had eliminated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. Meanwhile, at the China Open, Alexander Zverev, the reigning US Open champion, breezed past wildcard Juncheng Shang with a 6-0, 6-3 win, positioning himself for a high‑stakes quarter‑final against Novak Djokovic. Australian star Alex de Minaur, who had suffered a second‑round exit at the US Open, returned to winning form by overcoming France’s Quentin Halys in three sets.
The triumph set up a quarter‑final clash with Andrey Rublev, with both players eyeing valuable Race to Turin points that determine qualification for the year‑end ATP Finals. Rublev, having survived a second‑set comeback by Roman Safiullin to win 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, secured his own spot in the last eight. On the men’s side, Daniil Medvedev delivered a straight‑sets victory over Jan‑Lennard Struff, advancing to face the winner of the match between Francisco Cerúndolo and Jakub Mensik. The Russian’s efficient performance underscored his continued relevance among the sport’s elite.
The women’s draw also saw notable performances. After a three‑week hiatus following her semi‑final loss to Rybakina at the US Open, Coco Gauff returned to the China Open and booked a third‑round berth by defeating world No. 66 Camila Osorio 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2. Gauff survived a break at 4‑5 in the second set and held her nerve in the decisive set, setting up a match against China’s Xinran Sun.
British player Harriet Dart started brightly against 10th seed Iva Jovic, taking the opening set, but was unable to maintain the intensity, eventually succumbing 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. In another upset, Iga Świątek, fresh from a round‑of‑16 exit at the US Open, returned to action and displayed dominant form, converting five break points to defeat China’s Xinyu Gao 6-2, 6-3. Elina Svitolina also demonstrated resilience, coming back from a set down to beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, securing her place in the next round.
These matches illustrate the depth of talent across both tours, where even lower‑ranked players can challenge and sometimes topple the sport’s biggest names. For fans seeking to follow the action, the tournaments are being streamed on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering live coverage of the ATP Japan Open, the WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters without contractual obligations. The ongoing events promise further surprises, as the season approaches its climax and players vie for crucial ranking points, prize money, and qualification for the prestigious year‑end championships.