The Aporia · Sabalenka, Rybakina handed shock defeats at China Open tennis

In the China Open tennis tournament, world number one Elena Rybakina and former world number one Aryna Sabalenka both suffered unexpected defeats. Czech player Nikola Bartunkova, ranked 34th, surprised the field by defeating Sabalenka in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3. The match lasted for one hour and 35 minutes, with Bartunkova showcasing strong defensive play and firing deep shots. Meanwhile, Rybakina was eliminated earlier in the tournament by Alina Charaeva.

Written by AI on 2026-10-04, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Aryna Sabalenka, ranked second globally, was unexpectedly defeated in straight sets by Nikola Bartunkova from the Czech Republic at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. The match lasted just over an hour and a half with Bartunkova winning 6-4, 6-3. This defeat came after Sabalenka's recent loss to Elena Rybakina at the U.S. Open, preventing her from achieving a threepeat. Sabalenka had previously struggled in Beijing, never advancing past the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina was also eliminated earlier in the tournament, leaving both top seeds out of contention early on. Bartunkova credited her own focus and respect for Sabalenka as reasons for her victory, while looking ahead to facing Austria's Sinja Kraus next.

Written for “China Open Tennis Upsets” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 China Open Tennis Upsets

Sports · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

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Sabalenka knocked out of China Open in straight sets by Nikola Bartunkova Same event

Toronto Star

Hedges 0 of 13 claims Outlet record 64/100

Djokovic defeats top seed Zverev to reach China Open semifinals Different event

Al Jazeera

Hedges 0 of 25 claims Outlet record 60/100

“The articles describe different matches in the same tournament, not the same specific incident.”

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Aryna Sabalenka was swatted aside in straight sets by 34th-ranked Nikola Bartunkova in the third round of the China Open, leaving the event without its top two seeds as world number one Elena Rybakina was ousted in the second round. asserted

Rybakina → swat → round

Czech player Bartunkova, 20, sent down four aces to beat the former world number one 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes on Sunday. asserted

Bartunkova → send → Sunday

Recommended Stories list of 4 items- list 1 of 4World No 1 Sinner withdraws from Shanghai Masters as knee injury lingers - list 2 of 4‘So far so good’: Novak Djokovic ready for tennis comeback at China Open - list 3 of 4Asian Games: asserted

Djokovic → withdraw → Open

“I focused on myself, to be calm,” Bartunkova said. “She’s a legend … so I’m really happy that I won the match,” she said of the four-time Grand Slam champion. asserted

she → focus → champion

Bartunkova next faces Austria’s Sinja Kraus in the round of 16. asserted

Bartunkova → face → 16

Second-seeded Sabalenka squandered five chances to break serve in the sixth game of the first set, with Bartunkova strong on defence and firing deep. asserted

Bartunkova → squander → defence

The 28-year-old from Belarus threw on a cap for the eighth game of the first set as the women switched between playing in the shade and the sun, but it did not turn the tide in her favour. asserted

it → throw → favour

A frustrated Sabalenka tossed her racquet at a break down in the fourth game of the second set, and lost on the first match point when she returned into the net. asserted

she → toss → net

Earlier on Saturday, Elena Rybakina – who replaced Sabalenka as the world number one last month – was ousted by Alina Charaeva in the second round. asserted

who → replace → round

Top seed Alexander Zverev was scheduled to play Novak Djokovic later on Sunday in the quarterfinals of the men’s 500-level event also taking place. asserted

Zverev → schedule → place

The 39-year-old Serbian great enters the match with an extraordinary unbeaten streak in Beijing, but Zverev — last month’s US Open champion — is in the running for the top men’s ranking. asserted

Zverev → enter → ranking

Sabalenka, Rybakina handed shock defeats at China Open tennis

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