In a surprising turn of events at the China Open in Beijing, the tournament’s two highest‑ranked women—world No. 1 Elena Rybakina and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka—were both eliminated in the opening week.
Sabalenka’s loss came just a day after Rybakina’s defeat, leaving the event without its top seeds early on. The Belarusian, who is currently ranked second in the world, was dispatched by 20‑year‑old Czech hopeful Nikola Bartunkova.
Bartunkova, seeded 26th, produced a solid 6‑4, 6‑3 victory over the four‑time Grand Slam champion, marking a major upset and underscoring the depth of talent on the WTA tour. The win also extended Bartunkova’s impressive run in Beijing, as she will now meet Austria’s 24‑year‑old Sinja Kraus—who herself had a convincing 6‑1, 6‑4 win over Dayana Yastremska earlier on Sunday—in the next round. Sabalenka’s defeat was a continuation of a difficult week for the Belarusian. She had entered the tournament with a recent disappointment at the US Open, where she fell short of a historic three‑peat after being beaten by Rybakina in the final.
In Beijing, Sabalenka struggled from the start, squandering five break‑point opportunities in the first set and ultimately failing to find a rhythm on her serve. The 28‑year‑old has never advanced beyond the quarter‑finals at the China Open, and her early exit adds her to the growing list of top players who have stumbled in the early rounds of this WTA 1000 event.
The loss for Sabalenka also highlights a broader pattern of unpredictable results at the tournament. While the top seed in the men’s draw, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, progressed to the semi‑finals of the Japan Open after his opponent Denis Shapovalov retired with a hip injury, the women’s side saw both of its marquee names bow out prematurely. Alcaraz, who has been rebuilding his game after a four‑month lay‑off due to a wrist injury, expressed mixed feelings about his own win.
He admitted frustration with his own serving—dropping serve three times in the opening set—but was pleased with his resilience after each break. He also voiced sympathy for Shapovalov, noting that advancing under such circumstances is not ideal and hoping his opponent will recover in time for the Shanghai Masters. Other notable performances in Beijing included fifth‑seed Mirra Andreeva’s smooth passage into the fourth round.
Andreeva dispatched Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova 6‑4, 6‑1, firing six aces and converting five of seven break‑point chances in just 68 minutes. Her dominant display underscored her rising status on the tour and suggested she could be a dark horse as the tournament progresses.
The early departures of Rybakina and Sabalenka have reshaped the competitive landscape of the China Open. With the top two seeds out, the draw opens up for lower‑ranked players to make deeper runs, and fans can expect a series of unexpected match‑ups in the coming days. Bartunkova, now riding the momentum of her upset, will look to maintain her level against Kraus, while Andreeva aims to continue her aggressive baseline play. Beyond the on‑court action, the tournament continues to be broadcast across multiple platforms.
Viewers can stream the matches without a contract on the NOW service and the Sky Sports App, where both the WTA and ATP events—including the China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters—are available live. This accessibility ensures that tennis enthusiasts worldwide can follow the unfolding drama, from surprise upsets to the eventual crowning of a new champion.
In summary, the China Open has delivered a week of high drama, with the early elimination of its two highest‑ranked women’s players, a strong showing from emerging talents like Bartunkova and Andreeva, and continued excitement in the men’s draw courtesy of Alcaraz’s resurgence. The tournament’s next rounds promise further intrigue as the field adjusts to the absence of its top seeds and new contenders seize the opportunity to advance deeper than many anticipated.