Overview
- On Wednesday, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka lost a quarter-final she had led 6-3, 4-1 and was serving for at 5-4, falling 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 after making 57 unforced errors.
- Sabalenka told reporters she felt mentally shattered and said, “No thoughts, no emotions. I just want to quit tennis now,” describing a breakdown that echoed her late-match struggles in last year’s final.
- Diana Shnaider, 22 and seeded 25th, capitalised on the momentum swing to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final and will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska next.
- Maja Chwalinska reached the last four after coming through three qualifying rounds, becoming only the second women’s qualifier in the Open era to make the Roland Garros semis and securing a major ranking and prize-money boost.
- The result completes a cascade of upsets at this French Open and leaves the tournament with no former Grand Slam singles champions in the semifinals for the first time since 1977, increasing the chance of a first-time major winner and reshaping ranking and earnings outcomes for several lower-ranked players.