Sabalenka Knocked Out by Bartunkova, Djokovic Beats Zverev at China Open

World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka suffered another early exit at the China Open, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Czech 20-year-old Nikola Bartunkova in the third round, while Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev and reach the men’s semifinals.

Bartunkova, ranked No. 34 and seeded 26th, produced the biggest victory of her career in one hour and 35 minutes. She fired four aces and saved all five break points she faced, while Sabalenka failed to convert any of her five opportunities. The Belarusian was also broken in the opening game and struggled to find her rhythm throughout the contest.

The defeat continues a difficult period for Sabalenka. The four-time Grand Slam champion has not won a title since completing the Indian Wells-Miami “Sunshine Double” earlier this year. She also lost to Elena Rybakina in last month’s US Open final, meaning she is set to finish the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022. Rybakina, who replaced Sabalenka as world No. 1 after the US Open, had already been eliminated in Beijing.

Bartunkova will next face Austria’s Sinja Kraus in the round of 16. Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva also advanced after beating Polina Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1.

In the men’s draw, Djokovic overcame Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a contest lasting two hours and 35 minutes. The Serbian, returning to the Beijing tournament for the first time since 2015, struggled early but recovered by breaking Zverev at 5-4 in both the second and third sets. Zverev hit 19 aces but could not close out the match.

Djokovic’s victory extended his China Open record to 32-0, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s 31-match unbeaten start at the French Open for the best such run at a tour-level event in the Open Era. He will meet Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals as he targets a seventh Beijing title and his first trophy of the year.

The match also featured a brief controversy when Zverev challenged a point after an LED advertising sign appeared to go dark during a rally. The point was eventually replayed.