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Diana Shnaider stuns world No. 1 Sabalenka at Roland Garros

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was surprisingly eliminated from Roland Garros in the quarterfinals by Russia's Diana Shnaider.
  • Sabalenka, the tournament favorite after other top seeds fell, lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, marking her earliest Grand Slam exit in two years.
  • The Belarusian player struggled with her emotions and unforced errors, admitting she "completely disconnected mentally" and fell into a "very, very deep and very dark hole."

World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a stunning upset at Roland Garros, falling in the quarterfinals to 23-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider. The defeat, with sets of 3-6, 7-5, and 6-0, marks Sabalenka's earliest departure from a Grand Slam in two years.

Sabalenka, who was the last remaining Grand Slam champion in the women's draw and a favorite to win in Paris, appeared to lose control of the match after winning the first set. She had a chance to serve for the match at 5-1 in the second set, but Shnaider mounted a remarkable comeback, winning 12 of the next 13 games, including the last ten consecutively.

I don't know if I've ever lost 10 games in a row, but mentally I completely disconnected. I fell into a hole and didn't know how to get out.

— Aryna SabalenkaThe world No. 1 reflects on her mental state during her quarterfinal loss at Roland Garros.

"I don't know if I've ever lost 10 games in a row, but mentally I completely disconnected. I fell into a hole and didn't know how to get out," Sabalenka admitted after the match. She cited emotional struggles and an inability to make good decisions as key factors in her downfall. "I'm tired of losing. Today I couldn't play my best tennis because I didn't control my emotions."

I'm tired of losing. Today I couldn't play my best tennis because I didn't control my emotions.

— Aryna SabalenkaSabalenka explains the reasons behind her unexpected defeat at Roland Garros.

Shnaider, ranked 11th in the world, celebrated her first quarterfinal victory at a major tournament. She will face another surprise semifinalist, Poland's Maja Chwalinska, in the next round. The other semifinal will feature Russia's Mirra Andreeva against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.

Roland Garros 2026 is shaping up to be a tournament of surprises, with both the men's and women's singles titles likely to be won by new Grand Slam champions.

I have to find a solution to that, because I'm tired of losing.

— Aryna SabalenkaSabalenka expresses her frustration and determination to overcome her emotional challenges in tennis.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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