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Sabalenka Stunned by Bartunkova as China Open Loses Top Two Seeds

Posted : 05 October 2026

Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise early exit at the China Open after Nikola Bartunkova defeated the world number two 6-4, 6-3 in Beijing. The Czech player completed the upset in 95 minutes and claimed one of the biggest victories of her career.

Bartunkova made the perfect start by breaking Sabalenka in the opening game. Sabalenka created five break-point chances in the sixth game but could not convert any of them, allowing the Czech to protect her advantage and take the first set.

The 20-year-old continued to control the match in the second set. Sabalenka dropped serve early again and her frustration boiled over as she threw her racket, while Bartunkova remained composed to complete a straight-set victory.

"I focused on myself, to be calm. She's a legend, so I'm really happy that I won the match," Bartunkova said after recording her first victory over a top-three opponent. The result also marked her second top-10 win of the season.

The defeat continues a difficult period for Sabalenka. She has not won a title since completing the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells and Miami in March, while her loss to Elena Rybakina in the US Open final means she will finish 2026 without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022.

Sabalenka's departure follows the shock elimination of Rybakina, who became world number one after beating Sabalenka in New York. Rybakina lost to world number 118 Alina Charaeva in her opening match in Beijing, making this the first China Open since 2015 in which the top two seeds failed to reach the round of 16.

Bartunkova will face Austria's Sinja Kraus in the next round. The result adds another major milestone to her breakthrough 2026 season and gives the Czech player a chance to advance deeper into a WTA 1000 event.

There was also bad news for Rybakina after her early Beijing exit. The world number one withdrew from the Wuhan Open because of a foot injury and said she would take time to rest and recover before returning to competition.

Elsewhere in the Asian swing, defending Japan Open champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the Tokyo semifinals after Denis Shapovalov retired with a right-thigh injury. Alcaraz was leading 7-6 (7-3), 2-1 when the Canadian stopped the match.

 

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