World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a dramatic collapse as her hopes of winning a maiden French Open title ended in a shocking quarter-final defeat to Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka appeared firmly in control of the match after taking the first set 6-3 and building a commanding 4-1 lead in the second. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as Shnaider mounted an extraordinary comeback. The Russian 25th seed, competing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final, won 12 of the final 13 games to secure a stunning 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory.
The defeat marked another major disappointment for Sabalenka, who entered the tournament as the top seed and favourite following the early exits of former champions. Windy conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier proved difficult for the Belarusian, who struggled with consistency and accumulated 57 unforced errors. Frustration became increasingly visible as her game unraveled, echoing the issues that plagued her in last year’s French Open final defeat.
Shnaider, meanwhile, delivered one of the biggest victories of her career. The left-hander’s aggressive shot-making and powerful forehands troubled Sabalenka throughout the latter stages of the contest. Speaking after the match, Shnaider admitted she was overwhelmed by the result, saying she simply focused on fighting for every point against the world number one.
The upset continues a remarkable trend at this year’s French Open, which has seen several top contenders eliminated earlier than expected. With Sabalenka’s exit, Mirra Andreeva becomes the highest-ranked player remaining in the women’s draw.
Shnaider will next face Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals, while Andreeva takes on Marta Kostyuk. Sabalenka, meanwhile, is left reflecting on another missed opportunity to add a French Open crown to her four Grand Slam titles.
