Brief
World No 1 Elena Rybakina knocked out in China Open second round
Rybakina's two‑hour loss ended her debut as world No 1 after a US Open title.
By Felo News Desk · Published
World No 1 Elena Rybakina was eliminated in the second round of the China Open after a 3‑6 6‑4 6‑3 defeat to unseeded Alina Charaeva, the Independent reported on 3 October.
Rybakina, 27, had skipped the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Kazakhstan, citing a physically demanding month. She struggled on serve, committing seven double faults in the two‑hour, eleven‑minute match. Charaeva, a 24‑year‑old Russian‑born Armenian ranked 118th, rallied from a set down, converting five of eight break points and winning 76 % of points on her first serve.
The victory made Charaeva the lowest‑ranked player since the WTA rankings began in 1975 to defeat the world’s top‑ranked player after trailing a set. She will meet Britain’s Sonay Kartal in the third round, while Kartal advanced after a 6‑3 6‑2 win over Wang Xinyu.
Key facts
- Elena Rybakina lost to Alina Charaeva 3‑6 6‑4 6‑3 in the China Open second round. (independent.co.uk)
- Charaeva, ranked 118th, became the lowest‑ranked player since 1975 to beat the world No 1 after a set down. (independent.co.uk)
- Rybakina served seven double faults and struggled after skipping the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Rybakina stunned in first match as No 1 as Kartal progresses in China Open”
