The match, which lasted just over 90 minutes, saw the 34th-ranked Bartunkova maintain composure against the high-profile opponent. For Sabalenka, the loss continues a difficult run at the WTA-1000 event, where she has yet to progress beyond the quarterfinal stage throughout her career. The defeat marks a significant departure for the tournament, which has now lost its top two seeds within the opening week of play.
A Tournament of Upsets in Beijing
The exit of the Belarusian star follows the departure of newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who was eliminated from the competition on Saturday. Sabalenka, who recently faced Rybakina in the US Open, struggled to convert her opportunities during the opening set, failing to capitalize on five break points. Her inability to seize those critical moments ultimately allowed Bartunkova to dictate the flow of the match.
Following her victory, Bartunkova is set to face Austria’s Sinja Kraus in the next round. Kraus earned her place in the bracket after a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win over Dayana Yastremska earlier in the day. Meanwhile, the draw remains active with other notable contenders, including fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva, who secured her spot in the fourth round with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory over Polina Kudermetova. Andreeva required only 68 minutes to dispatch her opponent, firing six aces and converting five of seven break point opportunities.
As the women’s draw continues to see shifts in the field, attention in the men’s tournament turns to the quarterfinal stage, where top seed and US Open champion Alexander Zverev is scheduled to face Novak Djokovic later on Sunday.
