Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has been bundled out in the third round of the China Open in straight sets by Nikola Bartunkova.
The No.34-ranked Czech defeated four-time grand slam champion Sabalenka 6-4 6-3 in just 95 minutes on Sunday, leaving the tournament without its two top seeds in the first week.
Newly-crowned world No.1 Elena Rybakina was ousted from the tournament on Saturday and will now be joined by Sabalenka in exiting WTA 1000 event in Beijing early.
Sabalenka, who was denied a three-peat at the US Open last month by Rybakina, squandered five break points in the first set as her historic struggles in the Chinese capital continued. The 28-year-old Belorussian has never progressed past the quarter-finals at the event.
“First of all, I focused on myself, to be calm,” Bartunkova said.
“And Aryna, she’s great, she’s a legend, she’s a grand slam champion. So, yeah, I’m really happy that I won the match … I’m not a girl who celebrates too much.”
Bartunkova will next play 24-year-old Sinja Kraus of Austria, who earlier defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1 6-4.
There were also victories for fourth seeded American Mira Andreeva, 6-4 6-1 over Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, a 3-6 6-4 6-3 winner against 11th seed Diana Shnaider.
Taylah Preston, the only Australian left in the singles draw, takes on Ukrainian Daria Snigur later on Sunday.
Third seed, and 2023 US Open winner, Coco Gauff is also in action, as is four-time slam champion Naomi Osaka.
