TOPSHOT – Aryna Sabalenka reacts as she plays against Diana Shnaider during their women’s quarter final singles match on day 11 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 3, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty Images)
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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was cruising towards a semifinal appearance at Roland Garros….until she wasn’t.
The four-time Grand Slam champion led by a set and was two points from victory when serving for the match at 5-4 before completely collapsing against a player appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Sabalenka dropped 10 straight games en route to a devastating 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to No. 25 Diana Shnaider of Russia.
“Honestly, I’m speechless,” Shnaider said. “I’m super happy. Obviously today a little tough conditions with the wind. First time playing Aryna. Super nervous. Playing the quarterfinals for the first time. The first set I was just kind of trying to adjust to her game. Then to the conditions and to the wind. Trying to figure out how to play. I was just trying to focus point by point, not think about the score. I was like, it’s ok, it’s tough conditions. She’s the world No. 1. So I’ll just try to do my best til the end and see how it goes. I just fought for every point. Try to run for every ball and make it extra into the court.”
The women’s semifinals now feature a stunning collection of names unfamiliar to many tennis fans.
Shnaider will face qualifier Maja Chwalińska of Poland, who upset No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya, 7-6, 6-3.
The other semifinal features Russian No. 8 Mirra Andreeva against No. 15 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
“Definitely very challenging one.” Chwalinska told reporters. “The conditions were very tough. It was very windy today. You just need to be very focused, extra focused in these kind of conditions. I feel like what I did well was just stay calm when there was, 5-1 up and Anna, I think she started to play much more aggressive, and it was 5-All, I think. I’m just very proud that I stayed composed, and managed to win this set. Then the second set was just a battle. So I’m very happy, happy to win.”
Winner Poland’s Maja Chwalinska celebrates after winning against Anna Kalinskaya at the end of their women’s quarter final singles match on day 11 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 3, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images)
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Andreeva is the highest women’s seed remaining at No. 8.
One of those four will win her maiden Grand Slam title. Defending champion Coco Gauff was upset in the third round.
Men’s top seed Jannik Sinner lost in the third round and the men’s draw is without Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, who had combined to win the last 15 Slams.
Sabalenka stood still and screamed loudly after losing a point to fall 0-30 down in the sixth game of the decider and, although she saved two match points at 0-40 down, she lost the match when she sent a shot into the net. In all, she lost 12 of the last 13 games.
She was bidding for her first Roland Garros title after losing to Gauff in last year’s final despite taking the first set.
The loss also hit her in the pocketbook.
Sabalenka will take home $546,140 for reaching the quarters, while the semifinalists earn $871,500.
The winner takes home $3.25 million and the runner-up $1.63 million.
(The AP contributed reporting)