Aryna Sabalenka, currently the world’s top-ranked player, expressed her frustration following an unexpected defeat to Russia’s Diana Shnaider on Wednesday. The Belarusian athlete admitted that she contemplated leaving tennis altogether after the match.
“I have no thoughts or feelings right now. I just want to quit tennis at this moment, but I’ll see how I feel in a few days. I hope to regain my mental focus. I had some good chances in the second set, which I squandered, and then she took control and played exceptionally well. After the second set, I struggled to mentally bounce back. That was my biggest error. I can’t recall the last time I lost 10 consecutive games. I think I fell into a very deep and dark place mentally, and I couldn’t find my way back,” Sabalenka reflected after the match.
Shnaider pulled off a remarkable comeback, overcoming a set deficit and a double break to defeat Sabalenka with a score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 under challenging windy conditions. This match added to the surprises of the tournament, which has already seen defending champion Coco Gauff and four-time winner Iga Swiatek eliminated, further shaking up the women’s draw.
Having reached her first Grand Slam semi-final, Shnaider achieved this milestone by winning the last 10 games of the match, despite being just two points away from defeat. She will now face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals.
Sabalenka also voiced her confusion over the decision to keep the roof open on Court Philippe Chatrier, given the strong winds that impacted both players, causing red clay to blow into their faces and hindering their shot control throughout the match.
