After missing another big lead with an error-filled performance at the French Open, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt she wanted to stay as far away from the court as possible.
“I want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a set lead and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Schneider in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
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“We’ll know in a few days. I hope he’s back to normal mentally.”
Sabalenka’s wait for her first French Open title continues despite the four-time major champion leading 4-1 in the second set and serving for the match at 5-4 to put her just two points away from victory.
She then lost 12 of her last 13 matches against players competing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, becoming increasingly frustrated and looking uneasy in the windy conditions, and completely collapsed.
Just as she lost to Coco Gauff in last year’s final, winning the first set before making a series of unforced errors and falling behind, she will likely need time to recover.
“You know those rooms where you just walk in and destroy everything,” Sabalenka said. “I’ll probably spend the whole day over there breaking stuff. It might be useful, it might not be.”
Schneider will next face Maja Chwalinska, who extended her run at Roland Garros by defeating 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaja 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Sabalenka’s missed opportunity
The world number one stopped and screamed after losing 30-0 and losing points in the sixth game of the deciding match. Although they were at a 0-40 deficit and avoided two match points, their shot went into the net and they lost.
“I think it’s a combination of everything,” Sabalenka lamented. “If you think too much, you make easy mistakes and miss opportunities.”
Her struggles were reminiscent of the game against Gauff, where she loudly scolded, shouted to herself and glared at the team box.
“You just have to sit back and think honestly about what’s going on in your head in those tough moments,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on the match. “Because I’m a pretty experienced player. I’ve been through so much and overcome so much.”
Sabalenka already looked shaky on her serve in the first set, but she still appeared to be in control on her serve in the second set, where she held a 30-15 lead.
“Of course I saw moments where she was frustrated,” Schneider said. “I know Alina is a very emotional person.”
Schneider, who was already the best in the majors, defeated Sabalenka before taking full control.
“Well, to be honest, I’m speechless. I’m so happy,” she said. “I feel like I was just trying to focus on each point. I’m not thinking about the score. She’s number one in the world, so I’m just trying to do my best. I had to fight for every point.”
Sabalenka looked increasingly frustrated as the third set progressed, and when she missed a volley from the net in the fourth game of the final, she crouched down and rested her head on her racket.
Another upset at Roland Garros
It was yet another major upset in the tournament, with defending champion Gauff (third round) and four-time champion Iga Swiatek (fourth round) already eliminated.
Last year’s men’s singles runner-up, Jannik Sinner, served when he lost in the second round, and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic lost in the third round, wasting a two-set lead.
This opened doors for lesser-known players. According to sports analysis firm Opta, this year’s French Open will be the first major tournament since the 1977 French Open in which a former men’s and women’s singles major champion does not appear in the semifinals.
Unseeded Szwarinska made it through three qualifying rounds and became the second Polish woman, along with Swiatek, to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Chwalinska said she was inspired by British player Emma Raducanu’s run to the 2021 US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier.
“It was a very impressive run,” Chwarinska said. “And she was so young.”
The 24-year-old, who had never made it past the second round at a major until this tournament, scored her biggest victory when Kalinskaya’s big forehand from the back of the court went out.
Czwalinska’s total prize money for Roland Garros is $864,030, and if she makes it to the top four, she could earn 750,000 euros (approximately $872,000).
At Cote Philippe Chatrier, the roof was open and the wind was strong.
“I don’t know why they left the roof open when the wind was so strong,” Sabalenka said. “It was very dirty tennis. I don’t know how people actually sit there and watch me play.”
Kalinskaya also struggled.
“I feel like I’m fighting the wind,” she said. “It was cold today, so the ball was moving slowly. I couldn’t get the speed or power out.”
Men’s singles players are sent off
In the men’s quarterfinals, 10th seed Flavio Cobolli defeated fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and will face fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi for a place in the final.
Arnaldi advanced after another Italian, Matteo Berrettini, retired with a left hip injury, giving him a 7-5, 5-2 lead.
Berrettini underwent treatment for his hip during a medical timeout early in the second set.
Despite top-ranked Sinner losing in the second round, the Italians performed well.
In the other semi-final, second seed Alexander Zverev will face No. 26 Jakub Mensik.
