Bencic and Sabalenka knocked out in day of upsets at Shenzhen Open

Top seed Belinda Bencic and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka were both knocked out on a day full of upsets at the Shenzhen Open.

Anna Blinkova accounted for Bencic to claim her first top-10 win of her career; coming from a set down to beat the Swiss ace 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round. Sabalenka was beaten on the other hand; by Kristyna Pliskova in the Last 16.

The Chinese contingent did not have a good day either; with Wang Xiyu losing to one of the remaining top players left in Elise Mertens, third seed 6-4, 6-3. Zhang Shuai was also beaten 7-6, 6-3 by Kateryna Bondarenko.

There was also victories for Elena Rybakina, seventh seed who defeated Wang Yifan and fellow compatriot Zarina Diyas who saw off Duan Yingying 6-3, 6-4.

https://twitter.com/ShenzhenOpenWTA/status/1214419431230709761?s=20