Brief
Bartunkova upsets Sabalenka in straight sets at China Open
The 20‑year‑old Czech knocked out the world No 2 in an hour and 35 minutes on Sunday.
By Felo News Desk · Published
World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the third round of the China Open on Sunday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to 34th‑ranked Czech Nikola Bartunkova, according to Al Jazeera. The match lasted one hour and 35 minutes, with Bartunkova serving four aces and breaking Sabalenka’s serve five times. Sabalenka, 28, tossed her racquet after a break in the second set and failed to convert five break points in the first set. "I focused on myself, to be calm," Bartunkova said, adding that beating a four‑time Grand Slam champion was a personal triumph. She will face Austria’s Sinja Kraus in the round of 16. The upset leaves the women's draw without its top two seeds, as world No 1 Elena Rybakina was also knocked out in the second round.
Key facts
- Nikola Bartunkova defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the third round of the China Open. (aljazeera.com)
- The match lasted one hour and 35 minutes. (aljazeera.com)
- Sabalenka had five break‑point opportunities in the first set but did not convert any. (aljazeera.com)
- Bartunkova will meet Sinja Kraus in the round of 16. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Sabalenka, Rybakina handed shock defeats at China Open tennis”
