Agencies
Paris
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka squandered a set and two-break advantage before crashing to a stunning 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 defeat against Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The four-time Grand Slam champion looked firmly in control after taking the opening set and moving 4-1 ahead in the second. Sabalenka was also serving for the match at 5-4 and stood two points away from victory before Shnaider launched a remarkable comeback.
Appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, Shnaider stayed composed under pressure, broke back and seized momentum to dominate the decider. Sabalenka won only one of the last 13 games as her challenge ended in dramatic fashion.
The upset added to a tournament already marked by the exits of several top contenders, including defending champion Coco Gauff and four-time Roland Garros winner Iga Swiatek.
Earlier, unseeded qualifier Maja Chwalinska continued her dream run with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya to book a place in the semifinals.
The 24-year-old Pole, who came through three qualifying rounds, had never advanced beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before this tournament. Chwalinska became only the second Polish woman after Swiatek to reach the French
Open semifinals.
Her breakthrough run has also brought a major financial reward, with a semifinal berth worth 750,000 euros, nearly matching her career prize-money earnings before the tournament.
