Sabalenka exits China Open; Djokovic reaches semifinals
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out of the China Open in the third round on Sunday, October 4, losing in straight sets to Czech Republic's Nikola Bartunkova, while Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals with a three-set win over US Open champion Alexander Zverev.
World No. 34 Bartunkova defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 6-3 in just over 90 minutes, leaving the WTA 1000 tournament without its top two seeds in the opening week.
Newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina was eliminated on Saturday, October 3, with Sabalenka now joining her on the sidelines.
Sabalenka, who was denied a third consecutive US Open title by Rybakina last month, missed five break points in the opening set. The 28-year-old Belarusian has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in Beijing.
"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."
Bartunkova will face Austria's Sinja Kraus in the fourth round. Kraus defeated Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-4.
Fifth-ranked Mirra Andreeva also advanced, beating Polina Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1. The French Open champion hit six aces and converted five of seven break points in a 68-minute victory.
Djokovic extends Beijing record
Djokovic defeated Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the men's quarterfinals to remain unbeaten at the China Open.
The victory improved Djokovic's record in Beijing to 32-0 as he bids for a seventh China Open title. His unbeaten start surpassed Rafael Nadal's 31-0 record at the French Open for the best start at a tour-level tournament in the Open era.
Djokovic dropped his serve in the opening game and lost the first set before recovering to win the next two.
"I gave him an early break and then it was hard to come back in the first set," Djokovic said.
Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.
In the other quarterfinals, Hubert Hurkacz defeated Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-2, while Alex de Minaur beat Andrey Rublev 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Hurkacz and de Minaur will meet in the other semifinal.
Sourced through PTI
