Shnaider stuns top-ranked Sabalenka at French Open

Diana Shnaider pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 French Open, rallying from a set and a double break down to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in blustery conditions on Wednesday at Roland Garros.nytimes+2

Sabalenka, the tournament's heavy favorite and last remaining Grand Slam singles champion in the women's draw, appeared in full command at 6-3, 4-1 before her game disintegrated in the wind. The 28-year-old committed 57 unforced errors as her power game turned erratic, losing 12 of the final 13 games in a collapse that echoed her loss in last year's final.bbc+2

The 22-year-old Shnaider, seeded 25th and competing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, kept her composure as conditions deteriorated on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Her left-handed forehand caused mounting problems for Sabalenka in the decider, and she sealed the match with a bagel in the third set to reach her maiden major semifinal.rte+1

A Wide-Open Women's Draw

Sabalenka's exit guarantees a first-time Grand Slam champion on the women's side. The four semifinalists — Shnaider, Poland's Maja Chwalinska, Russia's Mirra Andreeva, and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk — are all seeking their maiden major title.nytimes+1

Shnaider will face Chwalinska, who continued her remarkable run as a qualifier by defeating Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 in Wednesday's earlier quarterfinal. On the other side of the draw, Kostyuk beat compatriot Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 on Tuesday and will meet eighth-seeded Andreeva, who dispatched Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3.espn+2

Sabalenka's Roland Garros Heartbreak Continues

The loss extends Sabalenka's painful history at Roland Garros, where she was runner-up in 2025 and has now failed to capture the one Grand Slam title that continues to elude her. Wind has been a recurring factor in her defeats in Paris, with the conditions again unsettling her flat ball-striking and exposing her to uncharacteristic errors.cbssports+3

Andreeva, at 19 years old, is now the highest-ranked player remaining in the women's draw.bbc