Diana Shnaider Upsets Aryna Sabalenka in French Open QFs
Russian tennis player Diana Shnaider caused a major upset on Wednesday by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the French Open. The match, held on Court Philippe Chatrier in challenging windy conditions, ended with Shnaider prevailing 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Sabalenka started strong, winning the first set and gaining a double-break advantage, but the momentum shifted dramatically as Shnaider staged a remarkable comeback. The 25th seed capitalized on Sabalenka’s unforced errors, which totaled an astonishing 57 throughout the match.
Shnaider, playing in her first major quarter-final, demonstrated resilience and composure to secure her place in the semi-finals. She is set to face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, in the next round on Thursday.
Sabalenka’s loss was particularly surprising as she was the only remaining Grand Slam champion in the singles draws for both men and women. The defeat ended her bid to secure her first French Open title and prevented her from reaching a seventh consecutive Grand Slam semi-final — a feat not achieved by any woman since Serena Williams.
The Belarusian’s struggle this year at Roland Garros echoes her performance in last year’s final, where she also lost from a strong position. On this occasion, her numerous unforced errors proved costly, ultimately allowing Shnaider to dominate the final set 6-0.
Shnaider’s remarkable run at the tournament marks her emergence as a formidable contender, with expectations now high as she seeks to advance further in the prestigious event.