Sabalenka Knocked Out of China Open in Straight Sets by Nikola Bartunkova
Bartunkova fired four aces and saved five break chances as the 34th-ranked Czech sent the top seed out in 1 hour, 35 minutes.
- On Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, 34th-ranked Nikola Bartunkova upset second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the China Open third round in Beijing, winning 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes.
- This defeat leaves the China Open without its top two seeds after Elena Rybakina was ousted by Alina Charaeva on Saturday. Sabalenka, a 28-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion, squandered five break points in the first set.
- Bartunkova relied on strong defense and four aces to secure victory. "I focused on myself, to be calm," the 20-year-old said of the former world number one.
- Advancing to the round of 16, Bartunkova will face 24-year-old Sinja Kraus of Austria, who earlier defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4.
- In Beijing's men's tournament, top seed Alexander Zverev faces Novak Djokovic in a quarterfinal later Sunday, with the U.S. Open champion seeking the top ranking against the 39-year-old Serbian great.
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Sabalenka knocked out of China Open in straight sets by Bartunkova, Djokovic outlasts Zverev
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka was bundled out in the third round of the China Open in straight sets by the Czech Republic's Nikola Bartunkova on Sunday. In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect record at the tournament with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over U.S. Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.
LancasterOnline
BEIJING (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the third round of the Chinese Open by losing Sunday in straight sets to Czech Nikola Bartunkova.
Aryna Sabalenka suffers yet another setback, makes shock exit at China Open
Aryna Sabalenka's difficult 2026 continued as she suffered a shock 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Nikola Bartunkova at the China Open. The loss extends Sabalenka's title drought since March, with the Belarusian also losing the No. 1 ranking and failing to win a Grand Slam this year.
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