Linda Noskova and Mirra Andreeva both advanced to the fourth round of the China Open in Beijing on 4 October 2026, navigating a draw rocked by the back-to-back eliminations of top seed Elena Rybakina and second seed Aryna Sabalenka. The two young Grand Slam champions reached the last 16 with contrasting but commanding wins, keeping their title hopes intact amid widespread upheaval at the top of the women's draw.

Noskova Dominates in 55 Minutes

Fifth seed Noskova produced a clinical display, dismissing Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 6-1 in just 55 minutes. The Wimbledon champion landed 77 per cent of her first serves and conceded only five points behind that delivery across the entire match.

The 21-year-old was briefly tested at the start of the second set, when three consecutive unforced errors left her facing three break points. She responded with three unreturned serves and two winners to escape, then reeled off five straight points to consolidate her hold.

Noskova kept Golubic off balance throughout by mixing powerful groundstrokes with drop shots and drive volleys. Her increasingly bold return game in the second set — highlighted by an angled backhand volley winner after charging the net — underlined the all-court threat she poses going deeper into the tournament.

Andreeva Recovers from Early Deficit

Fourth seed Andreeva faced a stiffer examination from Polina Kudermetova, falling 4-2 behind in the opening set before rallying to win 6-4, 6-1 in 68 minutes.

Kudermetova generated 25 groundstroke winners — compared with only three from Andreeva — and mixed power with a varied backhand, drop shots, and net approaches. Yet the French Open champion made the decisive adjustment, winning 10 of the next 11 games once she found her footing.

Andreeva cut her unforced errors from 12 in the first set to just six in the second, and saved all five break points she faced in the final set. Key moments included a backhand winner down the line and two aces when Kudermetova threatened a revival. Kudermetova, by contrast, finished with 48 unforced errors — a tally that ultimately undermined her early aggression.

Quarter-Final Route Opens Up

With Rybakina and Sabalenka both gone, the Beijing draw has opened considerably for the remaining contenders. Noskova will next face 19th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who recovered from a set and a break down to eliminate 11th seed Diana Shnaider 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. The 31-year-old Alexandrova reached the last 16 at WTA 1000 level or higher for the second time this season. The head-to-head between Noskova and Alexandrova is level at 1-1: Alexandrova won on hard courts in Monterrey last year, while Noskova claimed a 6-1, 6-1 victory on clay in Stuttgart earlier this season.

Andreeva's next opponent will be Daria Snigur, who produced arguably the round's most emphatic result, overpowering Taylah Preston 6-1, 6-0 in just 47 minutes — dropping only eight points in the second set. It marks Snigur's first appearance in the fourth round of a WTA 1000 event, a notable turnaround after she had to recover from a set down in both of her earlier Beijing matches.

Tournament Context

The twin exits of Rybakina and Sabalenka within a day of each other represent a significant shift in the tournament's balance of power. Both players arrived in Beijing as heavy favourites, and their early departures have handed the remaining seeds — Noskova and Andreeva among them — a clearer path to the title. This is the second consecutive WTA 1000 in the Asian swing to see its top two seeds fall before the quarterfinals, a pattern that underscores the increasingly competitive depth of the women's tour.

With the last 16 set and the draw wide open, Noskova and Andreeva will be looking to translate consistent form into a serious title challenge in the coming days.