Sabalenka, Rybakina handed shock defeats at China Open tennis | Tennis
Sabalenka Falls to Bartunkova at China Open; Rybakina Also Eliminated
Published on Oct. 4, 2026
BEIJING — Aryna Sabalenka was defeated in straight sets by 34th-ranked Nikola Bartunkova in the third round of the China Open, marking a significant exit for the tournament’s top two seeds. This follows the earlier loss of world number one Elena Rybakina, who was ousted in the second round by unseeded Alena Charaeva.
Bartunkova, a 20-year-old from the Czech Republic, delivered a strong performance against the former world number one, winning 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes. The match featured four aces from Bartunkova, who attributed her success to maintaining focus and composure.
“I focused on myself, to be calm,” Bartunkova said, expressing her excitement over defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion.
In the next round, Bartunkova will face Austria’s Sinja Kraus.
Sabalenka, the second seed, struggled throughout the match, failing to convert five break points during the sixth game of the first set. Bartunkova’s strong defense, coupled with powerful, deep shots, kept Sabalenka under pressure.
The Belarusian attempted to regain her footing by switching to a cap during the eighth game of the first set, as players navigated the varying sunlight. Despite her efforts, Sabalenka remained frustrated, tossing her racquet mid-match. She ultimately lost after returning a shot into the net on the first match point.
Earlier on Saturday, Rybakina, who took over the top ranking from Sabalenka just last month, was eliminated by Charaeva. Rybakina’s defeat followed her first match as the world’s number one player.
In related news, top seed Alexander Zverev is scheduled to face Novak Djokovic later on Sunday in the quarterfinals of the men’s 500-level event. Djokovic, now 39, enters the match with an impressive unbeaten streak in Beijing, while Zverev, the reigning US Open champion, is vying for the top men’s ranking.
