Sabalenka and Rybakina Crash Out as China Open Loses Top Two Seeds
Bartunkova stuns world No. 2 in Beijing; Charaeva had already ousted No. 1
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File photo: Aryna Sabalenka practicing at the 2024 US Open. Photo: Ocoudis, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
BEIJING — World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka was stunned in the China Open third round on Sunday as Czech Nikola Bartunkova completed a breakthrough week that leaves the tournament without its top two women's seeds.
Bartunkova, the No. 26 seed and ranked a career-high No. 34, beat the former world No. 1 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes on the hard courts in Beijing. Sabalenka failed to convert any of her five break points, according to the WTA and BBC Sport.
"I focused on myself, to be calm. She's a legend, so I'm really happy that I won the match," said 20-year-old Bartunkova, who next faces Austria's Sinja Kraus.
Rybakina already gone
A day earlier, top seed and new world No. 1 Elena Rybakina exited in the second round, falling 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Armenia's Alina Charaeva, ranked No. 118. BBC Sport reported it was the first time since 2015 that the China Open's top two seeds had failed to reach the round of 16.
Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in last month's US Open final to take over the No. 1 ranking, later withdrew from this month's Wuhan Open with a foot injury.
What it means
The double shock opens the draw for lower seeds and rising players at the WTA 1000 event. Bartunkova called the Sabalenka win the biggest of her career and said difficult wind and temperature swings made conditions tricky for both players.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and Japanese 12th seed Naomi Osaka both advanced on the same day Sabalenka fell, underlining a wide-open women's draw in Beijing.
Sources: BBC Sport; WTA; ESPN
