World · Malaysia Bureau
Sabalenka crashes out of China Open in third-round upset
Czech player Nikola Bartunkova delivered a dominant performance to eliminate former world number one Aryna Sabalenka from the China Open on Wednesday. The unseeded Czech secured a straight-sets victory in just over an hour and a half.
LSN Malaysia ·
Bartunkova proved too strong for the higher-ranked Sabalenka, dispatching the Belarusian 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes to advance from the third round in Beijing.
The Czech player's aggressive serving was a decisive factor in the match, with Bartunkova firing down four aces to consistently put pressure on her opponent. Her composed performance on court reflected steady execution across both sets, as she controlled the tempo and capitalized on key opportunities to break Sabalenka's serve.
The result marks a significant upset at the prestigious China Open, with Sabalenka's exit coming at an earlier stage than expected for a player of her calibre. Bartunkova's victory sends her through to the next round of the tournament, where she will face fresh challenges in her bid for a deep run in the competition.