Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Charaeva Stuns Rybakina as Zheng Advances at China Open
Alina Charaeva played Elena Rybakina at the China Open in Beijing.
Rybakina won the first set, but Charaeva won the next two.
That gave Charaeva a surprising victory and a place in the third round.
She said she kept believing she could turn the match around.
Zheng Qinwen also moved into the third round.
She lost the first set to Anna Kalinskaya but won the second.
Zheng took a 3-0 lead in the final set, and Kalinskaya then retired from the match.
Zheng said she had not expected her opponent to withdraw.
Alina Charaeva rallied to beat newly ranked world No. 1 Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Beijing.
The match lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes, and the victory sent Charaeva into the China Open’s third round.
Charaeva became the ninth player ranked outside the top 100 to defeat a world No. 1 since rankings began in 1975, according to the report.
Zheng Qinwen advanced after Anna Kalinskaya retired while trailing 3-0 in the deciding set.
Zheng lost the first-set tiebreak 7-4, won the second set 6-4, and had taken an early lead in the third before Kalinskaya withdrew.
- Who
- Alina Charaeva beat Elena Rybakina; Zheng Qinwen advanced after Anna Kalinskaya retired.
- What
- Charaeva upset Rybakina, and Zheng progressed to the China Open third round.
- When
- Saturday night; no calendar date is stated.
- Where
- The China Open in Beijing, China.
- Why
- Charaeva won her match in three sets; Zheng advanced when Kalinskaya retired while trailing 3-0 in the deciding set.
Charaeva’s perspective
Rybakina’s perspective
Match outcome
Charaeva’s perspective
Charaeva said she kept believing she could turn the match around and called the win a dream come true.
Rybakina’s perspective
The article reports Rybakina’s defeat but does not provide her reaction or perspective.
- Charaeva-Rybakina score
- 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
- Charaeva-Rybakina match time
- 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Charaeva ranking
- World No. 118
- Historical milestone
- The report says Charaeva is the ninth player ranked outside the top 100 to defeat a world No. 1 since rankings were first published in 1975.
- Zheng-Kalinskaya result
- Kalinskaya retired with Zheng leading 3-0 in the deciding set.
- Charaeva's next opponent
- Sonay Kartal
- Zheng's set scores
- Lost the first-set tiebreak 7-4; won the second set 6-4.