Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, WTA world No. 1 and No. 2, out of China Open
Throughout the 2026 season, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka’s tennis fates have been intertwined at the top of the sport. They have contested three finals, two of them at Grand Slams. They have jostled for the world No. 1 ranking, which Rybakina seized a fortnight ago in New York before defeating Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final, just as she had defeated her to win the Australian Open in…
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, the WTA world No. 1 and No. 2 respectively, were eliminated from the China Open in Beijing over the weekend. One day after Rybakina beat Sabalenka to secure the Australian Open title, the Russian world No. 1 was defeated by 24-year-old Alina Charaeva. Earlier, Sabalenka lost to 20-year-old Nikola Bartůňková.
Charaeva, who had never beaten a top-50 player before, became the lowest-ranked player to defeat the world No. 1. Rybakina became just the second player to lose her first match as world No. 1, following Naomi Osaka in 2019. The matches were marked by resilience and determination from both players, despite their respective defeats.
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Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Sabalenka swept out of China Open in third round freemalaysiatoday.com
- Sabalenka stunned by Bartunkova at China Open bbc.co.uk
