World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka has been eliminated from the China Open in Beijing, following a shock defeat on Sunday. The loss marks a significant upset in the tournament, removing one of the sport's top-ranked players from contention.
Sabalenka's exit comes just one day after fellow top seed Elena Rybakina, the world No 1, was also knocked out of the competition. The back-to-back upsets have sent shockwaves through the tennis world, as the two highest-ranked women in the sport failed to advance further in the event.
The defeats occurred in Beijing, where the China Open is currently being held. Both players were expected to be strong contenders for the title given their current rankings and form, making their early departures particularly surprising to fans and analysts alike.
With both the No 1 and No 2 seeds out of the tournament, the path to the final has opened up for other competitors. The results highlight the unpredictable nature of professional tennis, where even the most dominant players can fall to lower-ranked opponents.
The China Open continues to progress, with the remaining players now looking to capitalize on the absence of the top two seeds. The tournament's bracket has been significantly altered by these two consecutive upsets.
<small>Source: Sky Sports — read the original story there.</small>
