Bartunkova reveals the key to her semifinals in China: "I still find it hard to believe"

In a WTA 1000 in Beijing where the two best tennis players in the world, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, were eliminated in the early rounds, the great surprise has been Nikola Bartunkova, who was the executioner of the Belarusian in the second round and who in the quarter-finals dominated her compatriot, Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-0. She thus qualifies for her first semifinals in a WTA 1000 at the age of 20 and confirms that Czech tennis is a machine of promises.

She started the year as world number 126 and, at the moment, ensures she leaves Beijing as number 28 in the WTA ranking. To date, her best result had been the semifinals of the WTA 500 in Monterrey, but even she did not expect this performance. She confirmed this in the press conference after her victory and before her match against Mirra Andreeva, whom she praised without hesitation.

Bartunkova and a WTA 1000 in Beijing she will never forget

"It means so much. Before this year, honestly, I never would have imagined being in this situation, maintaining this level, or reaching a semifinal of a WTA 1000 tournament. Last year I think I was around the 600th ranking position in January and now I am close to the Top 30. It’s something very important for me, although the most important thing remains improving my style of play, continuing to evolve, and enjoying tennis."

"It's incredible to be able to say that I have beaten Top 10 or Top 20 players. In every match, I try to keep improving my game. Here I have managed to win against Sabalenka and Muchova, but also against Frech and Kraus, which were very tough matches. It’s something fantastic. I still find it hard to believe."

Bartunkova cannot believe the support from the Chinese crowd in Beijing

"Everything is incredible. Even having fans come to watch me train is not usual for me. It’s a very special feeling. Everything here is huge, impressive. It’s my first time at this tournament and I am simply enjoying the moment. Moreover, the results have been fantastic, so right now I am very happy."

A 20 YEAR OLD ON A MISSION ⭐️ Nikola Bartunkova reaches the biggest semifinal of her career after defeating Muchova in straight sets in Beijing! #ChinaOpen https://t.co/HJAFGiy9Em

— wta (@WTA) October 8, 2026

Bartunkova attempts to explain the Czech tennis phenomenon on the women’s circuit

"It's a combination of many things. From a young age, we have many tournaments to compete in. I have played a lot of matches when I was young with Sara Bejlek, Tereza Valentova, and other players from my generation. Also, we have great coaches and parents who support us a lot. My father, for example, is also a tennis coach. I think all of that together explains why Czech tennis is so successful."

Bartunkova reveals the key to her unforgettable week in Beijing

"Honestly, I did not expect these results before the tournament. I had trained a lot with some of the best players in the world, like Swiatek, Gauff, and others. Maybe that helped me a bit. I spent a week before the tournament preparing well for the competition, playing many training sessions and matches. I think that was the key: to arrive with good preparation. I did have confidence, but honestly, I did not expect to go this far."

Bartunkova praised her next opponent: Mirra Andreeva

"I know Andreeva because I played against her in my last match at the US Open. Unfortunately, I lost, but it was a great match. Mirra played very well and it was a very close encounter, especially the second set. Additionally, this year she became a Grand Slam champion."

"In fact, it’s incredible that Mirra is already a Grand Slam champion even younger than me. But I try to focus on myself. We have somewhat different playing styles, so each of us has her own path. It’s very positive to see that the new generation is coming in so strong. I am very happy to be part of this generation," concluded Nikola Bartunkova, who is starting to make a name for herself in the WTA 1000 in Beijing.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bartunkova desvela la clave de sus semifinales en China: "Todavía me cuesta creerlo"