Aryna Sabalenka opened her China Open campaign with a commanding performance against Renata Zarazua, winning 6-1 6-3 in just 63 minutes. The world number two struck 11 aces and was never broken, marking her first match since relinquishing both her world number one ranking and US Open title to Elena Rybakina in September.
After the victory, Sabalenka reflected on her ongoing struggle with self-criticism.
I think this is a good and a bad side of my personality, that I always ask and wait for more from myself. Sometimes it can drive me forward, but sometimes it can really drain my energy. Maybe this is something I have to finally learn. I'm really trying so hard sometimes to be easier on myself.
The 28-year-old Belarusian has endured a challenging year by her own standards. She remains without a Grand Slam title in 2026, her first calendar year without one since 2022, and has frequently battled to manage her emotions during matches. Her most recent title came at the Miami Open in March, when she completed the 'Sunshine Double' by winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.
According to match statistics, Sabalenka's victory improved her 2026 record to 47 wins and 9 losses. Her opponent, ranked 94th according to current rankings, had advanced to the match after defeating Anna Bondar in the previous round.
What's next for Sabalenka?
The Belarusian will face Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the third round. Bartunkova came close to upsetting Sabalenka at the Berlin Open in June and has since beaten Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2 to secure her spot in the next stage. According to the tournament schedule, their match is set for Sunday, October 4, with the winner advancing to face either Sinja Kraus or Dayana Yastremska in the last 16.
Other results from the women's draw
Britain's Katie Boulter exited the tournament after losing 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 to Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova. French Open champion Mirra Andreeva showed greater resilience, recovering from losing the opening set to defeat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6 6-0 6-0.
Top seed Elena Rybakina, who claimed the world number one ranking and US Open title from Sabalenka, begins her campaign on Saturday.
Men's tournament highlights
In the men's singles, sixth seed Daniil Medvedev advanced with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, delivering 12 aces during his dominant display. British pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool progressed in the doubles competition, defeating Russia's Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4.
Djokovic extends Beijing dominance
Novak Djokovic progressed to the second round with a 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 victory over China's Bu Yunchaokete. The six-time Beijing champion, who has maintained an undefeated record across 31 matches at this venue, faced a stern test when Bu claimed the opening set.
The 39-year-old Serbian required a medical timeout after surrendering a break in the second set, accepting a time violation as he worked to recover his breathing between points. He consulted with the trainer, as he had done during his first-round win over Nuno Borges, before dominating the tie-break.
Djokovic found his form in the final set, winning four consecutive games and sealing victory after two hours and 52 minutes with a backhand winner. He will face either US Open champion Alexander Zverev of Germany or China's Shang Juncheng on Saturday for a quarter-final berth.
Key Facts
- Sabalenka struck 11 aces and faced no break points in her 63-minute victory over Zarazua
- The Belarusian has not won a title since March 2026, when she won Indian Wells and Miami consecutively
- Bartunkova, her third-round opponent, previously came close to defeating Sabalenka at the Berlin Open in June
- Djokovic maintains a perfect 31-match record at the Beijing tournament
