Culture & Entertainment · Singapore Bureau
Rybakina's reign as world number one begins with shock China Open exit
Elena Rybakina's debut as the top-ranked player ended in disappointment on Saturday when she fell to unseeded Alina Charaeva in the second round of the China Open in Beijing.
LSN Singapore ·
The three-time Grand Slam champion suffered a 3-6 6-4 6-3 defeat to Charaeva in a result that has cast an early shadow over Rybakina's ascent to world number one.
The loss marked a subdued beginning to the Kazakhstani player's tenure at the summit of women's tennis, with Charaeva's upset victory coming against the odds as an unseeded competitor at the Beijing tournament.
Rybakina's exit from the China Open represents an early setback in a season where expectations have been elevated following her rise to the top ranking. The defeat will draw scrutiny on the consistency of her form heading into the remaining months of the tennis calendar.
The second-round departure came as Charaeva controlled proceedings throughout the match, breaking through Rybakina's defence with clinical tennis to secure the upset victory in straight sets.