Aryna Sabalenka, ranked second in the world, suffered a surprising defeat to Nikola Bartunkova at the China Open, marking her sixth consecutive loss after dropping the first set. This follows the earlier exit of top seed Elena Rybakina, who was defeated by Alina Charaeva, making it the first time since 2015 that the top two seeds have not reached the round of 16 in this tournament.
Sabalenka has not secured a title since March and will finish the year without a Grand Slam victory for the first time since 2022. Her struggles on court have been evident, particularly in her inability to convert break points against Bartunkova, who expressed her excitement at the win.
Sabalenka's ongoing struggles raise questions about her mental resilience heading into the off-season. Fans should monitor her performance in upcoming tournaments to see if she can regain form and address her break point conversion issues, crucial for her future success.