Aliaksandra Sasnovich Shocks Naomi Osaka in Beijing—Inside the China Open’s Biggest Upset

Aliaksandra Sasnovich delivered one of the shocks of the China Open by rallying from a set and a break down to eliminate four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing. The qualifier from Belarus needed just under two hours to earn her first victory in five attempts against Osaka and record her first Top-20 win since May 2024. Historic comeback over Osaka After landing only five first serves in the opening set, Sasnovich raised her first-serve percentage to 64 % over the next two sets and uncorked 21 winners, repeatedly targeting Osaka’s backhand. The 31-year-old also attacked the net for clutch points at 4-4 in the second set, flipping momentum that never swung back. Ranking boost and renewed confidence Sasnovich entered Beijing ranked No. 130 but owns a career-high of No. 29. The 120 ranking points already secured should propel her back toward the Top 100 and place her on the cusp of direct entry for the season-ending indoor events. More importantly, the win snaps a 16-month drought against elite opposition and reinforces the aggressive baseline patterns she has been honing with coach Aliaksandr Sitak. Next challenge: Marta Kostyuk The Belarusian’s reward is a third-round clash with No. 23 seed Marta Kostyuk on Tuesday (scheduled 3:00 AM UTC). Kostyuk dismissed qualifier Ella Seidel 6-1, 6-1 and owns a 1-0 head-to-head edge over Sasnovich, prevailing in Miami earlier this season. Fans can follow live scores and point-by-point statistics through trusted platforms such as Sofascore. Career snapshot • Turned pro: 2013 • Playing style: right-handed, two-handed backhand, aggressive counter-puncher • WTA finals: 5 (runner-up every time) • Notable scalps: Pliskova, Halep, Kvitova, now Osaka • 2025 record: 31–22 (all levels) Why this matters Osaka’s recent surge had positioned her as a dark-horse title contender, and she had never lost in a completed match in Beijing since 2018. Sasnovich’s upset not only reshapes the top half of the draw but also injects fresh intrigue into the race for the final WTA Elite Trophy spots. With confidence surging and her trademark return game clicking, Sasnovich suddenly looks capable of a deep run in the Chinese capital—and search interest around her name is spiking accordingly. Keep this page bookmarked for daily updates on Sasnovich’s results, ranking trajectory, and exclusive post-match quotes as the China Open story continues to unfold.