Historic Tennis Upset
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina suffers historic upset loss to Alina Charaeva at China Open
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Key Points
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Charaeva converted five of her eight break-point chances and won 76% of points behind her first serve, while Rybakina’s seven double faults contributed to her serving struggles.
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Charaeva said the win was a “dream come true” and that she tried to stay mentally strong and keep believing she could turn the match around. It was her Beijing debut.
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Charaeva had never faced a top-20 player before taking on Rybakina, according to Sky Sports.
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Rybakina had missed Kazakhstan’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals campaign; Tennis365 attributed her absence to an ongoing Achilles tendon injury.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina lost to 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the China Open's second round Beijing News. The upset marks Charaeva's first match against a top-20 player and the biggest win of her career. Rybakina was playing just her first match since claiming the top ranking after winning the U.S. Open AOL.
Charaeva, a 24-year-old Armenian in her 17th WTA main draw, became the lowest-ranked player to beat a world No. 1 from a set down since WTA rankings started in 1975 The Olympian. The match lasted just over two hours. Rybakina's seven double faults proved costly as Charaeva converted five of eight break-point chances Sun Herald.
Charaeva Breaks Down World's Best Player
Charaeva controlled the match with sharp serving and aggressive returns. She won 76% of points behind her first serve and broke Rybakina five times Beijing News. Rybakina struggled on her own serve, committing seven double faults that handed Charaeva free points. The gaps in Rybakina's game widened as the match went on.
A Historic Win for an Underdog
Charaeva called the victory a "dream come true" and credited mental toughness Mahoning Matters. She said she kept believing she could turn the match around after dropping the first set. Playing at the Beijing Open for the first time, Charaeva had never faced a top-20 player before facing Rybakina Sky Sports data. She now advances to face Britain's Sonay Kartal in the next round.
Rybakina's Achilles Issue May Have Slowed Her
Rybakina missed Kazakhstan's Billie Jean King Cup campaign due to an ongoing Achilles tendon injury Tennis365. The absence raised questions about her fitness heading into Beijing. Playing her first match as the top-ranked player, she faced a hungry opponent who had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Sabalenka Gets Closer to No. 1
The loss opens the door for Aryna Sabalenka to narrow the gap in the year-end No. 1 rankings race Sun Herald. Rybakina's points from her U.S. Open win remain on her ranking, but a slow run in Beijing could allow Sabalenka to catch up. The upset also means Rybakina's debut as top seed didn't produce the quick results she needed.
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