The most unpredictable edition of Roland Garros added another unexpected chapter. The Russian Diana Shnaider she starred in one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by defeating the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenkanumber 1 in the world and finalist of the last edition, by 3-6, 7-5 and 6-0 to advance to the semifinals.
The Russian left-footer reached the antechamber of a final for the first time Gigantic Slam and confirmed her growth in the elite of women’s tennis. Until this season, Shnaider had barely won two games in his entire career in Roland Garros.
In the semifinals she will face the Polish Maja Chwalinskanumber 114 in the world, who continues to sign one of the great revelations of the tournament after beating the Russian Anna Kalinskaya by 7-6(3) and 6-3.
Sabalenka suffered an unexpected collapse in Paris
When he seemed to have the match completely under control, Aryna Sabalenka He saw a victory that seemed assured escape. The Belarusian won the first tip and went 5-3 in the second set with her serve, one step away from sealing her place in the semifinals.
However, the game changed radically. Shnaider raised the aggressiveness of her game, began taking more risks from the back of the court and took advantage of the world number 1’s growing doubts.
Confidence passed to the Russian’s side, while Sabalenka lost solidity and accumulated errors that ended up condemning her. The outcome was overwhelming: a 6-0 in the third match that left the indispensable favorite for the title without a reaction.
Diana Shnaider keeps the wave of surprises alive at Roland Garros
The removal of Aryna Sabalenka joins a list of unexpected results that have marked this edition of Roland Garros. Before her fall, the defending champion had already been left out Coco Gauffthe Kazakh Elena Rybakina and the polish Iga Swiatekone of the great recent dominators of the Parisian tournament.
Sabalenka was also on the verge of achieving her 400th victory on the professional circuit and playing in her sixth consecutive semi-final of Gigantic Slam.
After the elimination of the leader of the ranking, the Russian Mirra Andreevaseeded eighth at just 19 years old, appears as the best-positioned player among the tennis players still in competition. Her next rival will be the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
Maja Chwalinska continues her dream path
Shnaider’s next rival is also having a memorable campaign. Maja Chwalinskafrom the qualifying phase, became only the sixth player to reach the semifinals of Gigantic Slam after passing the classification.
The Pole will look to maintain her surprising run when she faces Shnaider in an attractive duel between lefties for a place in the final of Roland Garros.
Sabalenka admits frustration after defeat
After their elimination in the quarterfinals, Aryna Sabalenka He acknowledged that he went through a mental block during the match and assured that he was unable to find answers to change the course of the match.
“I don’t know if I have ever lost ten games in a row, but on a mental level I have completely disconnected, I have fallen into a hole and I haven’t known how to get out,” said Sabalenka, noting that “there are times when we reflect too much and don’t make good decisions.”
The Belarusian also acknowledged that she will have to analyze why she continues to have more difficulties performing on clay and grass, the two surfaces where she has not yet managed to win a title. Gigantic Slam.
“I have to find a solution to that, because I’m tired of losing. Today I haven’t been able to play my best tennis because I haven’t controlled my emotions,” he said.
“In the end, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” added the tennis player, who missed an unbeatable opportunity to get closer to her first title in Roland Garros.
Keep reading:
· Surprise at Roland Garros: Jannik Sinner, world No. 1, falls in the second round
· Djokovic falls to a 19-year-old Brazilian at Roland Garros and doesn’t know if he will return
· Jannik Sinner defeats Ruud, completes the Masters 1000 collection and makes history
