PARIS, June 4 (Reuters): Aryna Sabalenka was dumped out of the French Open on a windy Wednesday at Roland Garros as Diana Shnaider staged an inspired comeback to beat the world number one 3-6 7-5 6-0 and further blow open the draw heading into the semi-finals.
In a tournament that has already witnessed several shocks, including premature exits for defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times winner Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka's collapse was another unexpected jolt through the field.
With world number one Jannik Sinner and 24-times major winner Novak Djokovic also early casualties, it means that for the first time since the 1977 edition of Roland Garros there will be no Grand Slam champion featuring in the semi-finals of a major.
"No thoughts, no emotions. I just want to quit tennis now," a downbeat Sabalenka told reporters after her defeat. "We'll see in a few days. Hopefully I'll get back on track mentally.
Shnaider said she had taken lessons from the Belarusian's struggles in last year's wind-hit final.
"Of course I knew in the final last year ... it was super windy," Shnaider said. "I had that thought in the back of my mind that she was struggling with Coco last year. I was like, 'yeah, I've got to use this opportunity, I need to just adjust'.
"I was starting to step in more on her second serve, putting pressure. She got a couple of unforced errors here and there and the momentum was shifting a bit towards my side.
"I believed more in myself."
Shnaider will continue to believe she can progress to her maiden Grand Slam final when she takes on Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who continued her Paris dream run with a 7-6(3) 6-3 victory over Russia's Anna Kalinskaya.
Sabalenka ousted by Shnaider as shocks continue to rock French Open
FE Team | Published: June 04, 2026 22:30:12
Sabalenka ousted by Shnaider as shocks continue to rock French Open
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