PARIS.- “I fell into a very deep black hole.” World number 1 and outgoing finalist Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated this Wednesday in the quarterfinals Roland Garros for the Russian Diana Shnaider (23rd) by 3-6, 7-5 and 6-0, by allowing a match that they had controlled in the second set to come back.
The Belarusian, owner of the circuit, was the last winner of grand slam still in the race Paris.
“I have no words,” said Shnaider, who at 23 years old won her first quarterfinal match in a major tournament, and will face another surprise guest in the semifinals, Poland’s Maja Chwalinska (114th).
Ranked 11th in the world in May 2025, the Russian has won five titles on the circuit WTAbut had had a discreet start to the season, with a semi-final in the Adelaide WTA 500 as the best result.
The other semifinal will face the Russian on Thursday Mirra Andreeva (8th), Shnaider’s doubles partner and the only survivor of the top 10, to the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (15th).
Sabalenka, who was playing in the quarterfinals of a major for the 14th consecutive time, was one step away from being the first woman to reach seven consecutive semifinals in a major since Serena Williams.
Favorite to win her first title in Paris after successive eliminations of Elena Rybakina (2nd), Coco Gauff (4th) e Iga Swiatek (3rd), Sabalenka started the match well, quickly taking a 5-1 lead.
New Grand Slam winner
Although Shnaider came back to 5-3, the world number 1 closed the set without hesitation (6-3) and seemed to be heading towards a victory in two sets when she took a 4-1 lead and then served for the match at 5-4 in the second.
But, as in 2025, the quadruple Grand Slam winner accumulated unforced errors (57), allowing her rival to tie at 5-5 before snatching serve two games later to tie it at one set apiece.
The pulse definitely tilted on the side of the Russian at the beginning of the third set, when Sabalenka, increasingly upset, lost her serve again (2-0) before finally giving up.
“I have the feeling that I had good opportunities (to close the match) in the second set, but I ruined everything and she started playing very well,” Sabalenka declared at a press conference.
“Mentally I wasn’t able to get into the match,” he added about what happened after losing the second set.
“I fell into a black hole”
“I don’t remember the last time I lost ten games in a row. I guess I mentally fell into a very deep black hole and couldn’t get back into the game,” he insisted.
His defeat was reminiscent of the one he suffered last year in the final against Gauff, also with a lot of wind on the court. Philippe Chatrierwhich Sabalenka dominated before the American’s comeback.
Then the Belarusian, winner of four Grand Slams (twice in Australia and two others US Open), reached 70 unforced errors.
Asked about her inability to win Ronald Garros and Wimbledon On the two surfaces that are not hard, Sabalenka explained: “I don’t really know. I feel good on dirt and grass. But I may be concentrating too much on thinking that I have never won a Grand Slam on these two surfaces.”
“That may lead me to think too much, or to become too emotional at certain times. In reality, I have to step back and try to find a solution. I am very tired of losing some games simply because my emotions overwhelm me, despite being a fairly experienced player,” she concluded.
Roland Garros 2026, marked by surprises, will crown a new Grand Slam champion in both the men’s and women’s categories.
