TENNIS: Sabalenka ousted by Shnaider as shocks continue to rock French Open

PARIS — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a stunning quarterfinal exit at the French Open on Wednesday after Russia’s Diana Shnaider rallied from a set down to claim a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory at Roland Garros.

The upset adds to a growing list of surprises in this year’s tournament, which has already seen the early departures of defending champion Coco Gauff and four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka appeared in control after taking the opening set and building a break advantage in the second. However, Shnaider capitalized on the Belarusian’s struggles in the windy conditions and gradually shifted momentum before dominating the deciding set.

The defeat left Sabalenka visibly frustrated.

“I just want to quit tennis now,” Sabalenka told reporters. “Hopefully I'll get back on track mentally. I don't know when was the last time that happened to me that I lost 10 games in a row.”

Shnaider said she drew confidence from Sabalenka’s difficulties in last year’s wind-affected French Open final.

“I knew it was super windy,” Shnaider said. “I had in the back of my mind that she struggled in those conditions last year. I just needed to adjust, put pressure on her second serve, and believe in myself.”

Shnaider will now face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semifinals. Chwalinska continued her remarkable run in Paris with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.

The semifinal appearance marks the biggest achievement of Chwalinska’s career, with prize money from the tournament already exceeding her previous career earnings. Despite the milestone, the Polish player remains focused on the task ahead.

“I’m just focusing on every single match,” Chwalinska said. “After the tournament, I’ll have time to process everything, but right now I need to focus on the job.”

On the men’s side, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.

Cobolli recovered from losing the opening set and took control after the roof was closed due to threatening weather conditions. The Italian credited consistency and a few personal superstitions for his success in Paris.

“I go to the same restaurant, order the same menu, and use the same shower,” Cobolli said, referring to the locker room shower once favored by 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

Cobolli will face fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the semifinals after Arnaldi advanced when Matteo Berrettini retired because of a hip injury while trailing 7-5, 5-2.

“It's crazy to think I'm in the semifinals,” Arnaldi said. “I feel sorry for Matteo because we practice together a lot, but I'm happy with how the tournament is going.”

With Sabalenka, Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic all eliminated, the 2026 French Open is guaranteed to crown a finalist from a group of players seeking their first major title. It also marks the first time since 1977 that no Grand Slam champion will appear in the semifinals of a major tournament. -Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; Editing by Pritha Sarkar and Toby Davis/Reuters