The China Open in Beijing lost both its top seeds within 24 hours, as world No. 1 Elena Rybakina fell on Saturday and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka followed on Sunday. The back-to-back exits marked a significant disruption to the WTA 1000 event's opening week.
How did Sabalenka lose?
Czech 20-year-old Nikola Bartunkova defeated Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday, handing the four-time Grand Slam champion a second-round exit. Sabalenka squandered five break points in the opening set, continuing a difficult run at the Beijing venue where she has never advanced past the quarter-finals. The loss marked Sabalenka's ninth consecutive tournament without a title, a drought spanning Madrid, Rome, the French Open, Berlin, Wimbledon, Toronto, Cincinnati, the US Open, and now Beijing.
What is Sabalenka's recent form?
Sabalenka reached the US Open final last month but was denied a three-peat title by Rybakina. Her results since then have been inconsistent, with early exits at multiple events and limited success on the hard court and clay surfaces. At 28 years old, the Belarusian has faced mounting pressure to return to the form that made her a dominant force earlier in the season.
Who advanced from the other matches?
Bartunkova, seeded No. 26, will face Austria's Sinja Kraus in the next round after Kraus defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4. Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion, advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Polina Kudermetova in 68 minutes, firing six aces and converting five of seven break-point opportunities.
Sources
- Sky Sports: China Open: Aryna Sabalenka suffers shock Beijing exit — a day after new world No 1 Elena Rybakina was knocked out. Sky Sports, 2026-10-04.
Reported from public sources.