Sabalenka China Open Exit: World No. 2 Stunned by Bartunkova in Beijing
World number two Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the China Open on Sunday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Czech 20-year-old Nikola Bartunkova in the third round in Beijing.
The defeat, sealed in one hour and 35 minutes, means the tournament has lost its top two seeds inside the first week. World number one Elena Rybakina was beaten by Alina Charaeva in the second round on Saturday, a day before the Sabalenka China Open exit.
Bartunkova, ranked 34th in the world, broke Sabalenka in the opening game and never looked back.
“I focused on myself, to be calm,” Bartunkova said after the biggest win of her career. “Aryna is great. She’s a legend. She’s a Grand Slam champion.”
How Bartunkova sealed the upset
Sabalenka made a slow start and never found her range. The 28-year-old from Belarus failed to convert any of the five break points she earned in the sixth game of the first set, and Bartunkova made her pay.
The Czech broke again early in the second set and held her serve throughout the match. She closed out the win on her first match point when a Sabalenka return found the net.
It was Bartunkova’s second career win over a top-10 player. Her first came against Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open in January. She fired four aces and did not drop her serve once.
Sabalenka China Open exit deepens a trophyless season
The loss continues a difficult season for the four-time Grand Slam champion. Sabalenka has not won a title since completing the Indian Wells and Miami double in March. She reached the US Open final last month but lost to Rybakina, who replaced her at the top of the world rankings.
Beijing has never been a happy hunting ground for Sabalenka. In five main-draw appearances at the China Open, she has never gone beyond the quarter-finals.
The double exit of the top two seeds is rare at this event. The last time neither of the top two seeds reached the round of 16 at the China Open was in 2015, when Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova both fell early.
What comes next in Beijing
Bartunkova will face Austria’s Sinja Kraus in the fourth round. Kraus, 24, beat Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4 earlier on Sunday.
Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva kept her title challenge on track with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Polina Kudermetova. The French Open champion needed just 68 minutes to reach the fourth round.
In the men’s draw, top seed Alexander Zverev plays Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals later on Sunday.
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Who beat Aryna Sabalenka at the China Open 2026?
Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic beat Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the third round in Beijing on October 4, 2026. The 20-year-old, ranked 34th in the world, broke Sabalenka three times and did not drop her serve.
What was the score between Sabalenka and Bartunkova?
Bartunkova won 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes. She broke Sabalenka in the opening game of the match and again early in the second set.
Who is the world number one in women’s tennis?
Elena Rybakina is the world number one after replacing Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings following the US Open. Rybakina was also knocked out of the China Open early, losing to Alina Charaeva in the second round.
When did Aryna Sabalenka last win a title?
Sabalenka’s last title came in March 2026, when she completed the Indian Wells and Miami double. She has not won a Grand Slam this season for the first time since 2022.
