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China Open Stunner: Bartunkova Ousts World No. 2 Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 as Top Two Seeds Fall in Beijing
20-year-old Czech Nikola Bartunkova stunned world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the China Open third round in Beijing, a day after top seed Elena Rybakina also fell.
Why it matters
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the WTA 1000 China Open on Sunday, beaten 6-4, 6-3 by 20-year-old Czech Nikola Bartunkova in the third round in Beijing. A day after top seed Elena Rybakina also fell, the tournament has lost its top two seeds before the round of 16.
Full report
Bartunkova, ranked No. 34 in the world, broke Sabalenka in the opening game and sealed the first set 6-4 after the Belarusian squandered five break-point chances in the sixth game. The second set went 6-3, with the match completed in 1 hour 35 minutes.
"I focused on myself, to be calm. Aryna is great. She's a legend. She's a Grand Slam champion," Bartunkova said after her first career win over Sabalenka. "So I'm really happy that I won the match."
The defeat extends a frustrating season for the four-time major winner: Sabalenka has not lifted a trophy since completing the "Sunshine Double" at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year, lost last month's US Open final to Rybakina, and will finish the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022. Rybakina replaced her as world No. 1 after the US Open.
Bartunkova now faces Austria's Sinja Kraus in the round of 16. Top seed Rybakina was ousted by Alina Charaeva in the second round on Saturday.
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