Maria Timofeeva said her watch was stolen during the China Open in Beijing, but the story has now taken a much more positive turn after the Uzbekistani confirmed that the issue has been resolved. The 22-year-old apologized for any confusion caused by her initial post and praised the tournament for being cooperative and helpful.
Timofeeva initially said that her watch had disappeared after she left her tennis bag outside the locker room while taking a shower. She explained that the bag had been unattended for around 10 minutes, prompting her to warn other players about leaving their belongings outside the locker room, even for a short period.
However, Timofeeva returned to Instagram with an update after the situation was resolved. Rather than continuing to accuse anyone of stealing the watch, she made clear that the matter had been settled and that the China Open had supported her once she raised the issue.
The incident came at the end of an otherwise highly positive tournament for Timofeeva. The world No. 68 made her China Open main-draw debut, reached the second round and continued a remarkable rise that has taken her from outside the top 150 to a new career-high ranking.
Timofeeva explains what happened with her watch
Timofeeva initially believed her watch had been stolen after she left her tennis bag outside the locker room while taking a shower. She said the bag was unattended for only around 10 minutes, but that was enough for the watch to disappear.
“Getting my watch stolen from the locker room at a 1000 event wasn't on my bingo card this year, but at this point, I'm accepting my fate of being a victim of all kinds of thefts as my part-time hobby," Timofeeva wrote on her Instagram Story. "Another lesson to not leave your tennis bag outside of a locker room, even for 10 mins while you take a shower."
The situation then changed after Timofeeva addressed the issue with the tournament. In a new update, the Uzbekistani confirmed that the matter had been resolved and apologized for any confusion caused by her initial post.
“After my short time story yesterday about my watch being stolen in Beijing - the issue has been resolved, so I'm very sorry to cause any mess and misunderstanding in this situation,” she wrote.
Timofeeva also made clear that she had received support from the China Open throughout the process, praising the organizers for their response rather than criticizing the tournament.
“The tournament has been nothing but cooperative and helpful with me as soon as I addressed the issue. Some stories do have happy ends and this is one of them,” she added.
The clarification means the incident ultimately ended without Timofeeva maintaining her initial accusation. What had first appeared to be a straightforward theft became a misunderstanding that was resolved to the player's satisfaction, with Timofeeva herself making sure to publicly acknowledge the tournament's help.
If Only she had put both statements up. Maria Timofeeva https://t.co/JLRu7hWmXt
— BlackhandMedia Mk II (@Hanley40) October 4, 2026
Timofeeva leaves Beijing with a new career high
The unusual incident came at the end of an otherwise excellent stretch for Timofeeva. She arrived in Beijing after winning the WTA 125 event in Porto the previous week and then extended her winning streak by beating Czech player Darja Vidmanova in the first round of the China Open.
Her run eventually ended against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the second round. Timofeeva took the second set from the former world No. 1 but could not complete the upset, losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 as Osaka stepped up in the deciding set.
Despite the defeat, Beijing continued a rapid rise for the 22-year-old. Timofeeva was outside the top 150 just six months ago, but her recent results have taken her firmly into the top 100 and towards the top 60.
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Her second-round appearance will take her to a new career-high No. 62 when the next WTA rankings are released. She will also become the new Uzbekistani No. 1, moving ahead of Kamilla Rakhimova.
Timofeeva's rise adds to an increasingly interesting generation of Uzbekistani players, with Rakhimova and Polina Kudermetova also making progress on the WTA Tour. After the confusion surrounding her watch, Timofeeva can therefore leave Beijing focusing on the much more important development: a new career-high ranking and another significant step forward in her breakthrough season.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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