World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open campaign came to a surprising end after she was defeated by Russia’s Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Sabalenka appeared on course for a semifinal berth after claiming the opening set and building a 5-3 lead in the second. However, Shnaider fought back from the brink of defeat, breaking Sabalenka’s serve when she was just two points away from victory. The Russian then won four consecutive games to take the second set and force a decider.
The momentum shifted completely in the final set. After a lengthy 17-point opening game, Shnaider secured an early break and capitalized on a series of errors from the top seed. Sabalenka struggled to regain control, and Shnaider went on to win the last ten games of the match, including a 6-0 final set.
Windy conditions played a significant role, with Sabalenka committing 57 unforced errors compared to Shnaider’s 27. Despite producing more winners, the Belarusian could not maintain consistency.
The victory marks Shnaider’s first Grand Slam semifinal and only her second career win over a top-10 opponent. She will next face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalińska for a place in the final.
