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Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked second in the world, was unexpectedly defeated by Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in straight sets at the China Open on Sunday. Bartunkova won with a score of 6-4, 6-3 in less than two hours, advancing to the fourth round while Sabalenka exits early along with reigning world No. 1 Elena Rybakina. Bartunkova attributed her victory to maintaining composure and respecting Sabalenka’s status as a Grand Slam champion.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
asserted
Sabalenka → rank → Sunday
The No. 34-ranked Bartunkova defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour and a half leaving the tournament without its two top seeds in the first week.
asserted
Bartunkova → rank → week
Newly-crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina was ousted from the tournament on Saturday and will now be joined by Sabalenka in exiting WTA-1000 event in Beijing early.
Sabalenka, who was denied a three-peat at the U.S. Open last month by Rybakina, squandered five break points in the first set as her historic struggles in Beijing continued.
asserted
struggles → crown → Beijing
The 28-year-old Belorussian has never progressed past the quarterfinals at the event.
asserted
Belorussian → progress → event
“First of all, I focused on myself, to be calm,” Bartunkova said.
asserted
Bartunkova → focus → myself
“And Aryna, she’s great, she’s a legend, she’s a Grand Slam champion.
asserted
she → ’ → ?
So, yeah, I’m really happy that I won the match ...
asserted
I → ’m → match
I’m not a girl who celebrates too much.”
asserted
who → ’m → ?
Bartunkova will next play 24-year-old Sinja Kraus of Austria, who earlier defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4.
asserted
who → play → Yastremska
Fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva eased into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Polina Kudermetova.
asserted
Andreeva → rank → Kudermetova
This year’s French Open winner fired six aces and took five of her seven break point opportunities to overwhelm her Uzbek opponent in just in 68 minutes.
asserted
winner → fire → minutes
In the men’s tournament, Hubert Hurkacz beat Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2) 6-2 to make the final four.
asserted
Hurkacz → beat → four
Later Sunday, top seed and U.S. Open champion Alexander Zverev plays his quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic.
asserted
Zverev → play → Djokovic
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