Bartunkova stuns Sabalenka in Beijing

World number two Aryna Sabalenka lost to 34th-ranked Czech Nikola Bartunkova six four, six three at the China Open on October fourth.

Top seeds fall in consecutive days

Sabalenka's exit came a day after top seed Elena Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in the US Open final last month, was knocked out by Armenian world number 118 Alina Charaeva.

First time since 2015

This is the first time since two thousand fifteen that the top two seeds have failed to reach the round of sixteen at the China Open.

Bartunkova's breakthrough continues

Twenty-year-old Bartunkova said: I focused on myself, to be calm. She's a legend, so I'm really happy that I won the match. She will face Austria's Sinja Kraus next.

“I focused on myself, to be calm. She's a legend, so I'm really happy that I won the match.”

Sabalenka's difficult year

Sabalenka has not won a title since March's Sunshine Double at Indian Wells and Miami. She will finish without a Grand Slam trophy for the first time since two thousand twenty-two.

Rybakina withdraws from Wuhan Open

World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from this month's Wuhan Open due to a foot injury, less than twenty-four hours after her China Open exit. The tournament is scheduled for October twelve to eighteen.