Aryna Sabalenka gives her fans a terrible surprise

World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka was unexpectedly eliminated from the WTA 1000 in Beijing in the second round. The Belarusian was defeated by Czech player Nikola Bartunkova, ranked No. 34 in the world, who won in two sets, 6-4, 6-3, after one hour and 35 minutes of play.

Bartunkova finished the match with four aces and two double faults, converting three of her eight break points. Sabalenka also recorded four aces and committed two double faults, but crucially failed to convert any of her five break points.

It was precisely those missed break points that weighed heavily on the outcome of the first set. In the sixth game, with Bartunkova leading 3-2, Sabalenka had five opportunities to break the Czech’s serve but failed to convert even one. In the next round, Bartunkova will face Austria’s Sinja Kraus, ranked 95th in the world.

This is not an easy time for Sabalenka, who has already suffered another heavy defeat in recent weeks. Last September, at the US Open, the Belarusian was defeated in the final by Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, losing the title she had won in the previous edition to the new world No. 1. This back-to-back defeat puts the Minsk native’s ambitions into perspective as the season winds down.

Bartunkova, for her part, confirms that she is one of the hottest players right now. The Czech player had already made a name for herself at the Italian Open last May, when she eliminated American Tyra Caterina Grant in the second round before being knocked out of the tournament. In Beijing, however, the world No. 34 is pushing herself even further, setting her sights on a spot in the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event.

Sabalenka’s elimination is part of a broader context of discussions currently shaping women’s tennis. The Belarusian is among the leading figures in a group of top ATP and WTA players calling for a revision of revenue distribution at Grand Slam tournaments, aiming to reach 22% of proceeds by 2030, up from the current 15%. This issue has sparked debate in recent weeks, in part due to statements by John McEnroe, who even suggested boycotting one or two Grand Slams as a means of pressure to secure more favorable terms for players.