Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Bartunkova Stuns Sabalenka as China Open Loses Top Seeds
Nikola Bartunkova beat Aryna Sabalenka at the China Open.
Bartunkova won both sets, 6-4 and 6-3, and kept her own serve in the match.
Reports describe the first-set break points differently: one says Bartunkova saved five, while another says Sabalenka missed five.
Sabalenka’s loss followed the earlier exit of Elena Rybakina, so neither of the tournament’s top two seeds reached the round of 16.
This was the first time in 12 years that both top seeds were out before that stage.
Bartunkova’s next opponent is Sinja Kraus.
Mirra Andreeva also moved into the fourth round.
In the men’s competition, Novak Djokovic beat Alexander Zverev, and Hubert Hurkacz and Alex de Minaur reached the semifinals.
World No. 34 Nikola Bartunkova beat second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the China Open third round on Sunday.
Bartunkova won in about 95 minutes, broke Sabalenka three times and held serve throughout; accounts say she saved five first-set break points or that Sabalenka squandered five.
Elena Rybakina had been eliminated on Saturday, leaving neither of the tournament’s top two seeds in the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years.
Bartunkova is set to face Austria’s Sinja Kraus next; Mirra Andreeva also advanced to the fourth round.
In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic beat Alexander Zverev, while Hubert Hurkacz and Alex de Minaur also advanced to the semifinals.
- Who
- Nikola Bartunkova defeated Aryna Sabalenka.
- What
- Bartunkova won their China Open third-round match 6-4, 6-3.
- When
- Sunday, October 4, 2026, according to the supplied reports.
- Where
- The China Open in Beijing.
- Why
- The reports give the result but do not establish a specific reason for Sabalenka’s defeat.
One account
Other account
First-set break points
One account
One report says Bartunkova saved five break points in the sixth game.
Other account
Another says Sabalenka squandered five break-point chances in the first set.
- Tournament
- China Open, a WTA-1000 event in Beijing
- Match result
- Nikola Bartunkova beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the third round
- Duration
- One report says 1 hour and 35 minutes; others say just over an hour and a half
- Bartunkova’s ranking
- World No. 34
- Next match
- Bartunkova is scheduled to face Sinja Kraus
- Top seeds
- Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina were both eliminated before the round of 16; it was the first such occurrence in 12 years
- Men’s results
- Novak Djokovic beat Alexander Zverev; Hubert Hurkacz and Alex de Minaur also advanced to the semifinals
- Other women’s result
- Mirra Andreeva beat Polina Kudermetova to reach the fourth round
