Sabalenka crashes out of China Open after defeat by Bartunkova

Belgian tennis star Nikola Bartunkova upset top seed and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of the China Open on Sunday. The 20-year-old Czech player defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 6-3 in just over an hour and a half. Bartunkova credited her calm demeanor and strong defensive play for her victory. She expressed her happiness at claiming the win, calling Sabalenka a legend.

Sabalenka squandered five break opportunities in the opening set, while her opponent showcased exceptional defensive skills and ability to fire deep shots. The match saw Sabalenka throwing her racquet in frustration during the fourth game of the second set, ultimately losing on the match point. Meanwhile, second-seeded Sabalenka missed five chances to break serve in the opening set, which was played under changing conditions of shade and sun.

The defeat leaves the China Open without its top two seeds. Meanwhile, top seed Elena Rybakina was eliminated by Alina Charaeva in the second round, and world No. 1 Alexander Zverev was set to face Novak Djokovic in the men's quarterfinals.