World number one Aryna Sabalenka experienced one of the most dramatic collapses of her career as she was eliminated from the French Open quarter-finals, losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 to Diana Shnaider.
Match Overview
The top-seeded Belarusian appeared to be in full control after winning the opening set and building a 4-1 lead in the second set. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Shnaider mounted a remarkable comeback, winning 10 consecutive games to secure the biggest victory of her career and book a place in her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Sabalenka's Reaction
A visibly frustrated Sabalenka admitted after the match that the defeat had left her emotionally drained. “I just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said during her post-match press conference, before adding that she hoped to recover mentally in the coming days. The four-time Grand Slam champion later acknowledged that she had fallen into a “deep, dark hole” mentally during the match and was unable to regain control as the contest slipped away. Sabalenka also questioned tournament organisers for keeping the roof open despite challenging windy conditions, describing the match as difficult for both players.
Shnaider's Performance
Shnaider, 22, produced a composed display under pressure, using long rallies and consistent shot-making to exploit Sabalenka's struggles. The Russian said she drew inspiration from watching Sabalenka's defeat in last year's French Open final and believed patience would be key if an opportunity arose.
The victory marks a breakthrough moment for Shnaider, who had previously struggled to make deep runs at major tournaments despite spending nearly two years among the world's top-ranked players.
Semi-Final Matchups
In the semi-finals, Shnaider will face Poland's Maja Chwalinska, who continued her surprise run by defeating Anna Kalinskaya. Ranked 114th in the world, Chwalinska had only one previous Grand Slam main-draw win before arriving in Paris. Meanwhile, the other semi-final will feature eighth seed Mirra Andreeva against Marta Kostyuk, ensuring a new Grand Slam champion will be crowned.
Sabalenka's Light Moment
Despite the disappointment, Sabalenka ended her press conference on a lighter note, joking that a visit to a room designed for smashing objects might help her release her frustration before returning to competition.
