Aryna Sabalenka endured one of the most painful defeats of her career at the French Open after losing to 25th seed Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals.
The world No. 1 looked firmly in control for most of the match. She won the opening set 6-3 and built a 4-1 lead in the second set. At that stage, a place in the semi-finals seemed almost guaranteed.
However, the match took a dramatic turn.
Shnaider fought back strongly and took advantage of Sabalenka’s growing frustration. The Russian player won 10 consecutive games and completed a remarkable comeback with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory.
The result sent Shnaider into her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final and left Sabalenka searching for answers.
Emotional Reaction After the Match
Sabalenka did not hide her disappointment during the post-match press conference.
When asked about her emotions, she admitted she was struggling mentally after the defeat.
“I just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said before adding that she hoped to recover mentally in the coming days.
The Belarusian later explained that she had fallen into a very dark mental space during the match and could not regain control.
She also admitted she could not remember the last time she lost 10 games in a row.
Match Slipped Away Despite Huge Advantage
The turning point came late in the second set.
Sabalenka was only a few points away from victory at 5-4, 30-30. A win would have taken her into another Grand Slam semi-final and kept her dream of a first French Open title alive.
Instead, her game unraveled.
Errors started to pile up, confidence disappeared, and Shnaider grew stronger with every game. While Sabalenka struggled under pressure, the Russian remained calm and disciplined.
As a result, momentum completely shifted.
Shnaider Delivers Career-Best Performance
Diana Shnaider produced one of the finest performances of her career when it mattered most.
The 22-year-old absorbed Sabalenka’s power, extended rallies, and consistently forced her opponent into difficult situations.
She stayed patient throughout the comeback. Moreover, she handled the windy conditions better than the top seed.
Shnaider later revealed that she remembered Sabalenka’s struggles in last year’s French Open final against Coco Gauff.
That memory encouraged her to keep fighting even when she was trailing.
The victory marks a major breakthrough for a player who has spent nearly two years among the world’s top competitors but had struggled to make deep runs at Grand Slam tournaments.
Sabalenka Criticises Court Conditions
After the defeat, Sabalenka also expressed frustration about the weather conditions.
She questioned why tournament officials kept the roof open despite strong winds affecting play.
According to Sabalenka, the conditions made it difficult to produce quality tennis. She felt the match became messy because of the constant gusts.
Interestingly, the roof was later closed during another match on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Unexpected Semi-Final Lineup Takes Shape
Shnaider will now face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals.
Chwalinska has been one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. Ranked outside the top 100, she arrived in Paris with only one Grand Slam main-draw victory to her name.
Nevertheless, she has put together an impressive run and lost only one set throughout the event.
The other semi-final will feature 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
As a result, the women’s draw is guaranteed to produce a new Grand Slam champion.
Sabalenka Looks for a Way Forward
Although devastated by the loss, Sabalenka eventually managed to find a little humor.
While discussing how she plans to recover mentally, she joked about visiting one of those rooms where people smash objects to release stress.
She said spending a day breaking things might help her move on from the disappointment.
For now, however, the defeat remains one of the most shocking collapses of her career, while Shnaider moves one step closer to an unforgettable French Open title.