Bartunkova knocks Sabalenka out of Beijing in straight sets

Nikola Bartunkova defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 6–3 in Beijing on October 4, knocking the second seed out of the China Open and advancing to the round of 16.

The Czech player broke in the opening game and saved five break points in the sixth game to preserve her lead. She held her final two service games of the set without losing a point.

Bartunkova broke again for a 3–1 lead in the second set and did not face another break point. A final break in the ninth game completed the victory in one hour, 35 minutes, according to the WTA’s match report.

Sabalenka converted none of her five break chances, while Bartunkova took three of eight. The result gave Bartunkova her second career win over a top-10 opponent and her second appearance in the last 16 of a WTA 1000 event.

Bartunkova next faces Austria’s Sinja Kraus, who beat Dayana Yastremska 6–1, 6–4. The upset followed top seed Elena Rybakina’s departure from the tournament the previous day.