Aryna Sabalenka's difficult season continued on Sunday in Beijing, where the world number two was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by 20-year-old Czech Nikola Bartunkova in the China Open third round.
How it happened
Sabalenka was broken in the opening game and wasted five chances to break back in the sixth game of the first set, eventually going down in one hour and 35 minutes. Bartunkova, playing with remarkable composure against the four-time Grand Slam champion, said afterwards: "I focused on myself, to be calm. Aryna is great. She's a legend. She's a Grand Slam champion."
A season without a major
The Belarusian has now gone without a title since completing the Indian Wells–Miami "Sunshine Double" earlier this year. She reached the US Open final last month but lost to Elena Rybakina, who subsequently replaced her at the top of the world rankings. Sabalenka will now finish a season without a Grand Slam win for the first time since 2022.
Sources:
- Reuters — Sabalenka bundled out of China Open by Czech Bartunkova
How it happened
Sabalenka was broken in the opening game and wasted five chances to break back in the sixth game of the first set, eventually going down in one hour and 35 minutes. Bartunkova, playing with remarkable composure against the four-time Grand Slam champion, said afterwards: "I focused on myself, to be calm. Aryna is great. She's a legend. She's a Grand Slam champion."
A season without a major
The Belarusian has now gone without a title since completing the Indian Wells–Miami "Sunshine Double" earlier this year. She reached the US Open final last month but lost to Elena Rybakina, who subsequently replaced her at the top of the world rankings. Sabalenka will now finish a season without a Grand Slam win for the first time since 2022.
Sources:
- Reuters — Sabalenka bundled out of China Open by Czech Bartunkova
