In a stunning turn of events at the China Open in Beijing, world number one Elena Rybakina was knocked out in the second round after a hard-fought match against Alina Charaeva, who is ranked 118th. Rybakina, 27, lost the match with a scoreline of 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, following a grueling encounter that lasted over three hours.
Rybakina, coming off a remarkable 2026 season where she claimed titles at both the Australian Open and US Open, had recently returned to the court after a recovery period from a foot injury. After receiving a bye in the first round, she faced Charaeva, who had previously defeated Yuliia Starodubtseva in her opening match.
The match began on a promising note for Rybakina, as she secured the first set 6-3, suggesting she might progress to the third round. However, Charaeva adjusted her game and began to dominate the rallies, ultimately turning the tide in her favor.
After an intense battle lasting 3 hours and 14 minutes, Rybakina succumbed to Charaeva’s relentless pressure, resulting in a surprising defeat that highlighted the unpredictable nature of tennis. Charaeva will now advance to the third round, where she will compete against Sonay Kartal, who advanced after defeating Xinyu Wang.
Before the tournament, Rybakina expressed her ambition to finish 2026 strong and maintain her top ranking in the WTA standings. Although this early exit is a setback, she has the opportunity to bounce back at the upcoming tournament in Wuhan from October 12 to 18.
