Charaeva exits Beijing in the round of 16 after historic win over world No. 1
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Armenian tennis player Alina Charaeva has ended her run at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, bowing out in the round of 16.
In the fourth-round match, the 24-year-old Armenian, ranked No. 118 in the WTA rankings, lost to China’s Qinwen Zheng, who is currently ranked 54th in the world.
The three-set encounter ended in Zheng’s favor, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Despite the defeat, the Beijing tournament became one of the most memorable events of Charaeva’s career. Earlier, the Armenian tennis player pulled off a sensational victory over world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
With that victory, Charaeva made history by becoming the lowest-ranked player ever to defeat the reigning world No. 1.
The Armenian also defeated Britain’s Sonay Kartal in Beijing, allowing her to reach this stage of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in her career.
Her successful run in China will earn Charaeva valuable ranking points. Following the tournament, the Armenian tennis player could break into the WTA top 100 for the first time in her career.