The tournament in Beijing has lost its two highest-ranked players within 48 hours after 20-year-old Nikola Bartunkova dismantled world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3. Sabalenka’s exit comes just one day after world No. 1 Elena Rybakina was knocked out of the WTA 1000 event by Alina Charaeva, marking a massive shift in the competition’s landscape during its opening week.
For spectators and tournament organizers, the departure of the top two seeds significantly alters the path to the championship title. The absence of both world leaders leaves a wide-open draw for the remaining field, including players like fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, who secured a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Polina Kudermetova to advance to the fourth round.
According to Sky Sports and The Daily Gazette, Sabalenka struggled significantly throughout the match, failing to convert five break points in the opening set. The Belarusian, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at this tournament. Bartunkova, currently ranked No. 34, dominated the match in just over an hour and a half of play. The Daily Gazette reports that the contest concluded on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Looking ahead, Bartunkova is scheduled to face Austria’s 24-year-old Sinja Kraus in the next round. Kraus earned her spot after defeating Dayana Yastremska in straight sets earlier on Sunday.