In a surprising turn of events at the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, world number two Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated just a day after the tournament’s top seed, world number one Elena Rybakina, suffered a shock defeat. The Belarusian, who entered the event with high expectations, fell to 20-year-old Czech hopeful Nikola Bartúková, who dispatched the four-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. This back-to-back loss of the two highest-ranked players left the tournament without its marquee names in the opening week, dramatically reshaping the draw and opening the door for lower‑ranked competitors.
Rybakina’s upset on Saturday had already sent ripples through the tennis community, and Sabalenka’s subsequent departure confirmed that the Beijing event would be anything but predictable. Bartúková, seeded 26th, showcased a blend of power and consistency that proved too much for the 28‑year‑old Sabalenka, who struggled to find her rhythm from the very first point. Sabalenka squandered five break‑point opportunities in the opening set and was unable to recover, ultimately succumbing to the Czech’s relentless baseline play. This loss is particularly significant for Sabalenka, who has never advanced beyond the quarter‑finals at the China Open in her career.
Her recent history in Beijing has been marked by early exits, and this defeat continues that pattern. The Belarusian entered the tournament still reeling from a recent loss to Rybakina at the US Open, where she was denied a third consecutive title. The psychological weight of that defeat seemed to linger, contributing to a tentative serve and uncharacteristic errors throughout her match against Bartúková.
Looking ahead, Bartúková will face another rising talent, 24‑year‑old Austrian Sinja Kraus, who earlier in the day secured a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Dayana Yastremska. Both young players are eager to capitalize on the sudden vacuum left by the top seeds and could make a deep run in the tournament.
In other sections of the draw, fifth‑seeded Mirra Andreeva continued her strong performance by cruising into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Polina Kudermetova. Andreeva’s match was highlighted by six aces and an impressive conversion rate of five break points out of seven, allowing her to dominate the Uzbek opponent in just 68 minutes. Meanwhile, on the men’s side of the competition, top‑seed Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semi‑finals of the Japan Open after his opponent, Canadian Denis Shapovalov, was forced to retire with a hip injury.
Alcaraz, who is still finding his footing after a four‑month layoff due to a wrist injury, was leading 7-6 (7-4), 2-1 when Shapovalov withdrew. Despite the win, Alcaraz expressed frustration with his own serving performance, noting that he struggled to find a rhythm and dropped serve three times in the opening set. He praised his resilience, saying, "I’m happy with the way I came back after every break. It was a great first set with excellent points and rallies." Alcaraz also voiced disappointment about the manner of his victory, acknowledging that advancing under such circumstances is not ideal.
He wished Shapovalov a swift recovery and hoped the Canadian would be fit to compete in the upcoming Shanghai Masters. In the semi‑finals, Alcaraz will meet fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar, who earned his place by defeating France’s Kyrian Jacquet 6-4, 6-2.
The China Open continues to offer live streaming options for fans worldwide, with coverage available on NOW and the Sky Sports App. Viewers can follow both the WTA and ATP events, including the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, as the season progresses toward its final stretch. Overall, the early elimination of both Sabalenka and Rybakina underscores the depth and unpredictability of women’s tennis today. With the top two seeds out, the tournament is poised to produce fresh storylines and potentially crown a new champion, while the men’s competition remains intense as Alcaraz seeks to build momentum ahead of the season’s concluding events.