Aryna Sabalenka suffers early Beijing exit

Aryna Sabalenka’s Beijing campaign ended in the third round, a disappointing result for the tournament’s No. 2 seed and the world’s second-ranked player. Her elimination came against Czech opponent Nikola Bartunkova, who is ranked 34th in the world.

Bartunkova won 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes on the hard courts in China. She made the first breakthrough in the opening set, but Sabalenka had opportunities to recover at 3-2. The Belarusian missed all five of her break chances in that game, while Bartunkova later protected her advantage by saving three break points. She then took the set with a love service game.

The second set stayed level through the opening games before Bartunkova again moved ahead. Sabalenka saved one break point at 1-1, but could not prevent the Czech from converting the next opportunity. Bartunkova maintained the lead, survived another break point at 4-2 and broke Sabalenka once more before serving for the match.

The result sends Bartunkova into the next round after a significant ranking upset, with the 34th-ranked player defeating an opponent 32 places higher. Sabalenka’s departure also leaves the Beijing draw without its No. 2 seed. Fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva advanced by defeating Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1, while sixth-ranked Linda Noskova beat Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-1 in 56 minutes. Noskova will face Russian No. 19 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated compatriot Diana Shnaider 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.