India, Oct. 4 -- 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...