Aryna Sabalenka will continue her China Open 2026 title bid against Czech rising star Nikola Bartunkova in the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing on Sunday, October 4.
The second-seeded Sabalenka began her campaign with a straight-sets win over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, while Bartunkova reached the third round after defeating Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2.
The match will also be a rematch of their Berlin Open quarter-final from June, when Sabalenka recovered from losing the opening set and coming back from 4-0 down in the second to beat Bartunkova 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4. Bartunkova, currently ranked No. 34, will be looking to produce another test against the world No. 2 on the Beijing hard courts.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Nikola Bartunkova Head-To-Head Record
This will be the second meeting between Sabalenka and Bartunkova, with the Belarusian holding a 1-0 advantage in their head-to-head record. Their only previous clash came in the 2026 Berlin Open quarterfinals, where Sabalenka fought back from a set and a break down to beat Bartunkova 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.
When will Aryna Sabalenka vs Nikola Bartunkova WTA China Open 2026 Round of 32 match start?
Sabalenka vs Bartunkova is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM local time in Beijing on Sunday, October 4. That is 8:30 AM IST in India, 11:00 PM ET on Saturday, October 3 in the USA, and 4:00 AM BST on Sunday, October 4 in the UK. The match is scheduled on Capital Group Diamond and is listed as the opening match on the court.
Where to watch Aryna Sabalenka vs Nikola Bartunkova WTA China Open 2026 match?
- India: Fans can watch the China Open live on Tennis Channel.
- USA: Live coverage of Sabalenka vs Bartunkova is available on Tennis Channel.
- UK: The China Open is available live on Sky Sports Tennis and NOW.
