Sabalenka Follows Rybakina Out as Bartunkova Stuns Four-Time Grand Slam Champion

The China Open has produced two major upsets in consecutive days. After Elena Rybakina suffered a shock defeat on Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated a day later.

Twenty-year-old Czech player Nikola Bartunkova stunned the four-time Grand Slam champion with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the last-32 round.

Bartunkova kept her composure throughout the match and focused on executing her own game against one of the biggest names in women's tennis.

“I tried to stay calm and focus on my game. She is a legend, so I’m really happy to beat her,” Bartunkova said after the match.

Sabalenka's defeat also created a rare piece of China Open history. For the first time since 2015, both of the tournament's top two seeds have failed to reach the last 16.

The first major shock came on Saturday. Rybakina had entered the China Open as the world's No. 1 player after defeating Sabalenka in last month's US Open final to win her third Grand Slam title.

But her stay at the tournament was short-lived. Rybakina was beaten by world No. 118 Alina Charayeva in the last-32 stage.

Sabalenka followed her out the next day, meaning the China Open has lost both of its top two seeds within 24 hours.

With the two leading contenders gone, the tournament is now wide open for the remaining players.