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China Open organisers have been left without both of the tournament’s top seeds after Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock early exit in Beijing. The world No 2 was beaten in straight sets by Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova on Sunday, one day after newly crowned world No 1 Elena Rybakina was eliminated.
Bartunkova produced the biggest win of her young career, defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-4 6-3. The result sent the No 26 seed into the next round and dramatically opened up the draw at the WTA 1000 event.
China Open rocked by Sabalenka’s stunning defeat
Sabalenka struggled to find her best tennis throughout the contest. The Belarusian created five break-point opportunities in the opening set but was unable to convert any of them, allowing Bartunkova to establish control.
The Czech player remained composed against one of the sport’s most powerful competitors. Once she secured the first set, Bartunkova continued to apply pressure and moved through the second set with impressive confidence.
The loss extends a difficult run for Sabalenka, who has now gone nine consecutive tournaments without winning a title. Her recent results include a quarter-final appearance at the Madrid Open and French Open, a semi-final in Berlin, and a final at the US Open.
- Madrid Open: quarter-final
- Rome: third round
- French Open: quarter-final
- Berlin: semi-final
- Wimbledon: fourth round
- Toronto and Cincinnati: fourth round
- US Open: finalist
- China Open: first round
Sabalenka was denied a third consecutive US Open title by Rybakina last month, but neither player has been able to build momentum in Beijing. Sabalenka has also never advanced beyond the quarter-finals at the China Open, making this another frustrating campaign in the Chinese capital.
Bartunkova earns a major breakthrough
For Bartunkova, the victory represents a major breakthrough on one of the biggest stages in tennis. The 20-year-old will next face Austria’s Sinja Kraus, who defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1 6-4 earlier on Sunday.
The teenager’s calm performance against Sabalenka underlined her ability to handle pressure. She will now attempt to continue her remarkable run against Kraus, with a place in the later rounds at stake.
Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva also progressed in Beijing. The French Open champion defeated Polina Kudermetova 6-4 6-1 in just 68 minutes, firing six aces and converting five of seven break-point chances.
Alcaraz advances in Tokyo after injury retirement
While the women’s draw was rocked by surprise results, Carlos Alcaraz moved into the semi-finals of the Japan Open in Tokyo. The top seed was leading Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7-4) 2-1 when the Canadian retired because of a hip injury.
Alcaraz, the defending champion, is continuing his strong return from a four-month wrist injury lay-off. However, the Spaniard admitted that his performance was not completely comfortable, particularly on serve.
“It was a little bit frustrating with my serve. I couldn’t find a good way of serving: I was struggling almost every game on serve,” Alcaraz said after dropping serve three times in the opening set.
He was encouraged by the way he recovered from difficult moments and praised the quality of the opening set. Alcaraz also expressed disappointment that Shapovalov could not finish the match.
“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,” he said.
Alcaraz will face fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in the semi-finals. Munar, who came through qualifying, defeated France’s Kyrian Jacquet 6-4 6-2.
What the China Open results mean
With Rybakina and Sabalenka both gone, the China Open has lost its two highest-ranked players before the tournament’s later stages. Their exits create a major opportunity for the remaining contenders, including Andreeva and other seeds hoping to claim a valuable WTA 1000 title.
The results also highlight the unpredictable nature of the women’s game, where Bartunkova’s breakthrough victory has instantly changed the shape of the competition. Attention now turns to whether the Czech teenager can build on the biggest win of her career.
Who defeated Aryna Sabalenka at the China Open?
Nikola Bartunkova defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-3 in the opening week of the Beijing tournament.
Why was Elena Rybakina’s exit significant?
Rybakina was the world No 1 and the top seed. Her defeat one day before Sabalenka’s loss means the China Open has lost its two leading seeds.
How long has Sabalenka gone without a title?
Sabalenka has now gone nine consecutive tournaments without winning a title, including the China Open.
Who will Carlos Alcaraz play next?
Alcaraz will meet fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in the Tokyo semi-finals after Denis Shapovalov retired with a hip injury.
