French Open: No. 1 Sabalenka loses in quarterfinals to Shnaider

Key Points:

• Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka was upset in the French Open quarterfinals by Diana Shnaider, losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 after squandering a lead and match points, extending her wait for a first Roland Garros title.
• Sabalenka expressed deep frustration and mental fatigue following the loss, likening her emotional state to a previous collapse in last year’s final against Coco Gauff.
• In the men’s quarterfinals, Italian players Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi advanced, with Arnaldi benefiting from Matteo Berrettini’s retirement due to a hip injury.
• The tournament has seen numerous upsets, including early exits of defending champion Coco Gauff, four-time winner Iga Swiatek, and top seeds like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, resulting in no former major champions in the semifinals for the first time since 1977.
• Unseeded Maja Chwalinska, who came through qualifying rounds, reached the semifinals, inspired by Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open run, highlighting a breakthrough performance amid challenging windy conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier.