PARIS : World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a stunning quarter-final collapse at the French Open on Wednesday, losing 3-6 7-5 6-0 to Russia’s Diana Shnaider as a series of shocks continued to reshape the tournament draw.
Sabalenka appeared in control after taking the opening set and moving a break ahead in the second, but the Belarusian unraveled in difficult, windy conditions, losing 10 consecutive games as Shnaider surged into her maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
The result followed the earlier exits of defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times Roland Garros winner Iga Swiatek, while men’s top seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic had also fallen before the last four.
For the first time since the 1977 French Open, no Grand Slam singles champion will feature in either semi-final draw.
“No thoughts, no emotions. I just want to quit tennis now,” a dejected Sabalenka told reporters. “I guess mentally I got into a very deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn’t get back on track.”
Shnaider said she drew confidence from Sabalenka’s struggles in windy conditions during last year’s Roland Garros final.
“I had that thought in the back of my mind that she was struggling with Coco last year,” Shnaider said. “I needed to adjust and use the opportunity. I believed more in myself.”
The Russian will next face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who continued her dream run with a 7-6(3) 6-3 victory over Anna Kalinskaya.
Chwalinska, long overshadowed by compatriot Swiatek, has already secured a career-best payday and a place in her first Grand Slam semi-final.
“I honestly don’t feel like it’s a huge moment for me,” Chwalinska said. “I’m just focusing on every single match.”
In the men’s draw, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli reached his first Grand Slam semi-final by defeating fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Cobolli, who joked about using the same shower stall once favoured by 14-time champion Rafael Nadal as part of his tournament routine, will face fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
Arnaldi advanced after Matteo Berrettini retired with a hip injury while trailing 7-5 5-2.
“It’s crazy to think I’m in the semi-finals,” Arnaldi said. “I feel sorry for Matteo, but I’m happy about how the tournament is going.”
