Shnaider stuns Sabalenka to reach French Open semifinals after comeback

Russian 25th seed Diana Shnaider upset world number one and top seed Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the French Open women’s singles quarterfinals on Wednesday in Paris. Sabalenka led by a set and a double break before her game unraveled in blustery conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The defeat ends Sabalenka’s bid for a first Roland-Garros title and sends Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal.

Sabalenka’s level dipped sharply after a dominant start, and she finished with 57 unforced errors. Shnaider absorbed the early pressure, steadied in the wind and turned the match with a late surge in the second set before running away with the decider. The world number one won only 14 points in the third set as Shnaider sealed a statement victory.

The momentum shift began late in the second set. After Sabalenka moved 4-1 ahead with a double break, she was broken back and struggled to contain a growing error count. Shnaider capitalized with cleaner ball-striking and more consistent depth, drawing mistakes and extending rallies until the top seed’s resistance ebbed.

The result continues an unusual Roland-Garros narrative: Sabalenka was the only reigning Grand Slam champion left in either singles draw, but she could not translate that status into a place in the last four. The Belarusian was appearing in her 14th consecutive major quarterfinal yet fell short of becoming the first woman to reach seven straight Grand Slam semifinals since Serena Williams.

Top seed unravels after early control

Early lead slips away in wind

Sabalenka raced through the opener 6-3 and looked in full command at 4-1 in the second set. A flurry of unforced errors allowed Shnaider to claw back, level, and then edge the set 7-5. From there, Shnaider’s confidence grew as she dictated more exchanges and handled the gusts with better margins.

Error count proves decisive

Across the final two sets, Sabalenka’s tally of 57 unforced errors proved the defining statistic. Shnaider tightened her patterns, targeted safer lanes and made the extra ball, a combination that flipped baseline rallies and turned pressure back on the top seed.

Shnaider’s breakthrough and path ahead

First major semifinal for 22-year-old

The 22-year-old Russian is playing the best tennis of her career, notching only her second win over a top-10 opponent. She said the windy conditions demanded patience and composure and described herself as “speechless” and “super happy” after the upset, framing the run at Roland-Garros as a special breakthrough.

Chwalinska next, Kostyuk or Andreeva could await

Shnaider will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, the world number 114 and a fellow left-hander, in Thursday’s semifinal. The winner will meet either Marta Kostyuk or Mirra Andreeva in Sunday’s final. On current form, Shnaider enters the last four with belief after rebounding from a near-lost position and closing with a one-sided third set.

Shnaider’s semifinal will determine whether her momentum carries into a first major final, while Sabalenka regroups after a rare collapse from a commanding lead.