By afiur
October 04, 2026
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.
The No. 34-ranked Bartunkova defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour and a half.
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.
Sabalenka, who was denied three-peat at US Open last month by Rybakina, squandered five break points in first set as her historic struggles in Beijing continued.
The 28-year-old Belarusian has never progressed past the quarterfinals at the event.