Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open hopes were blown away in a stunning quarter-final loss to Diana Shnaider. The world number one was the steady presence in a tournament full of shocks and looked to be easing through to the last four when she led by a set and 4-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
But the blustery conditions, which frequently made the players pause to wipe clay from their eyes, had already caused Sabalenka problems, and those only increased.
Russian Shnaider, seeded 25th, played intelligently in the biggest match of her career, repeatedly asking questions of Sabalenka, and the Belarusian simply did not have the answers.
Sabalenka lost 11 of the last 12 games, her frustration threatening to boil over completely, and she stormed off court after a 3-6 7-5 6-0 defeat. It is only the second time in her last 14 grand slams that Sabalenka has failed to reach at least the semi-finals, while she lost a love set for the first time in two-and-a-half years. Her defeat, meanwhile, means there is no player left in the women’s tournament who has previously reached a grand slam final. Shnaider put her hands on her head in disbelief at the end of the match, and she said: “Honestly, I’m speechless. I’m super happy. “Obviously today a little tough conditions with the wind. First time playing Aryna, super nervous, and first time playing in the quarter-finals of a grand slam.”