Bartunkova Upsets Sabalenka in China for Biggest Career Win

Nikola Bartunkova is in line to be the next game-changing Czech woman.

The 20-year-old moved closer to the front of that line on Sunday in Beijing as she recorded the biggest win of her career against four-time major champion Aryna Sabalenka. Bartunkova broke in the first game of the match and handled all the big moments well as she marched past Sabalenka, 6-4, 6-3, to book her spot in the round of 16 on her China Open debut.

“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.”

The 20-year-old saved all five break points she faced in the match in the sixth game of the opening set, which proved to be the difference in the set. They were the only break points that she would face across the one hour and 35-minute contest. 

Bartunkova had three points for a double-break lead in the next game but didn’t convert.

Nevertheless, she was able to hold serve at love in her final two service games of the set to take it, 6-4.

Bartunkova broke early in the second set for 2-1 and again had a point for a double-break lead with Sabalenka serving at 2-4. Sabalenka held but was broken in her next service game, as she served to stay in the match.

The Czech finished with 23 winners and 22 unforced errors; Sabalenka hit 26 winners against 25 unforced errors. 

She gets it done 🔥

Nikola Bartunkova secures the win of her career defeating No.2 seed Sabalenka in straight sets!#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/2NHzzCGrKT

— wta (@WTA) October 4, 2026

Will the Czech take time to celebrate her second – and biggest – Top 10 win of the season?

“I’m not a girl who celebrates too much,” she said. “I’m trying to be focused because I’m still in the tournament. Today is doubles, so that’s my plan.”

Bartunkova, into the round of 16 at a WTA 1000 event for the second time, will face Sinja Kraus of Austria next.

Sabalenka’s loss, coupled with Elena Rybakina’s defeat on Saturday, means that the top two seeds will not reach the round of 16 at the China Open for the first time since 2015.

Sabalenka has lost just twice in 24 matches against players ranked outside the Top 20 in 2026 – to Bartunkova and Sara Bejlek.