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Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible after letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at Roland-Garros.
“Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals on Wednesday (Paris time).
“We’ll see in few days. Hopefully, I’ll get back on track mentally,” the world No.1 said.
Sabalenka’s wait for a first Roland-Garros title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while serving for the match at 5-4.
What followed was a complete collapse as she lost 12 of the last 13 games against a player appearing in her first grand slam quarter-final, looking increasingly frustrated and forlorn in the windy conditions.
Just like her loss to Coco Gauff in last year’s final, when she also won the first set before becoming undone with a slew of unforced errors, this one will take some time for Sabalenka to get over.
“You know those rooms where you just go in and you smash everything,” Sabalenka said. “Probably I will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it will help, maybe not.”
Sabalenka stood still and screamed loudly after losing a point to fall 0-30 down in the sixth game of the decider and, although she saved two match points at 0-40 down, she lost when she sent a shot into the net.
“I just think it’s combination of everything,” Sabalenka said. “You overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you miss opportunities.”
Her struggles were reminiscent of the match against Gauff, when she remonstrated loudly, shouting to herself and glaring at her team box.
“I just have to sit back and openly think about what’s going on in my head in those tough moments,” Sabalenka said, recalling that match. “Because I’m quite an experienced player. I have been through so many things, and I overcome so many things.”
Sabalenka had already looked agitated when serving for the first set but still looked in control as she served for the match in the second, holding a 30-15 lead.
“Of course I saw some moments of her frustration,” Shnaider said. “I know Aryna, that she’s a very emotional person.”
Shnaider, who was already on her best run at a major, broke Sabelenka before taking complete control.
“Well, honestly I am speechless. Super happy,” Shnaider said.
“I feel like I was trying to focus point by point. Not thinking about the score. She is the world No. 1, so I just trying to do my best. I just had to fight for every point.”
Shnaider next faces Maja Chwalinska, who extended her remarkable Roland Garros run by beating No.22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
The unseeded Chwalinska came through three qualifying rounds to become only the second Polish woman to reach the semi-finals at Roland-Garros, along with four-time Roland-Garros winner Iga Swiatek.
Chwalinska said British player Emma Raducanu’s run to the 2021 US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier had inspired her.
“It was such an impressive run, you know,” Chwalinska recalled. “Also, she was so young.”
Italy guaranteed men’s finalist
In the men’s quarter-finals, 10th-seeded Flavio Cobolli beat No.4 Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and will face fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi for a spot in the final.
Arnaldi advanced when Matteo Berrettini, yet another Italian, retired due to a left hip injury with Arnaldi leading 7-5, 5-2.
Berrettini had his hip treated during a medical timeout earlier in the second set.
