PARIS (AP) 鈥� After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the , top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible.
鈥淛ust want to quit tennis right now,鈥� 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 quarterfinals on Wednesday. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see in few days. Hopefully I鈥檒l get back on track mentally.鈥�
Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open 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 quarterfinal, looking increasingly frustrated and forlorn in the windy conditions.
Just like , when she also won the first set before becoming undone with a slew of unforced errors, this one will take some time to get over.
鈥淵ou know those rooms where you just go in and you smash everything,鈥� Sabalenka said. 鈥淧robably I will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it will help, maybe not.鈥�
Shnaider next faces Maja Chwalinska, who extended her remarkable Roland Garros run by beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3.
Italian men’s finalist
In the men鈥檚 quarterfinals, 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 an apparent physical issue with Arnaldi leading 7-5, 5-2.
Berrettini appeared to have his left groin area treated during a medical timeout earlier in the second set.
comes despite .
Second-seeded and No. 26 will meet in the other semifinal.
Sabalenka’s missed opportunities
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.
鈥淚 just think it鈥檚 combination of everything,鈥� Sabalenka lamented. 鈥淵ou overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you miss opportunities.鈥�
Her struggles were reminiscent of the match against Gauff, when she remonstrated loudly, shouting to herself and glaring at her team box.
鈥淚 just have to sit back and openly think about what鈥檚 going on in my head in those tough moments,鈥� Sabalenka said, recalling that match. 鈥淏ecause I鈥檓 quite an experienced player. I have been through so many things, and I overcome so many things.鈥�
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.
鈥淥f course I saw some moments of her frustration,鈥� Shnaider said. 鈥淚 know Aryna, that she鈥檚 a very emotional person.”
Shnaider, who was already on her best run at a major, broke Sabelenka before taking complete control.
鈥淲ell, honestly I am speechless. Super happy,鈥� Shnaider said. 鈥淚 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.鈥�
Sabalenka looked increasingly frustrated as the third set wore on, and when she missed a volley at the net in the fourth game of the decider she crouched and rested her head on her racket.
Another upset
It was another big upset in a tournament where defending champion (third round) and four-time winner (fourth round) already tumbled out.
Sinner, , served for the match in a , and 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic wasted a two-set lead in a .
That opened things up for lesser-known players. According to Opta, this is the first major without a former champion in either the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 semifinals since the French Open in 1977.
From qualifier to contender
The unseeded Chwalinska came through three qualifying rounds to become only the second Polish woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros, along with Swiatek.
Chwalinska said British player as an 18-year-old qualifier had inspired her.
鈥淚t was such an impressive run, you know,鈥� Chwalinska recalled. 鈥淎lso, she was so young.鈥�
When Kalinskaya鈥檚 big forehand from the back of the court went out, the 24-year-old Chwalinska had her biggest win, having never been beyond the second round at any major before this tournament.
Chwalinska鈥檚 total prize money heading into Roland Garros was $864,030 and reaching the last four here earns her 750,000 euros (about $872,000).
Windy conditions
The roof was open on Court Philippe-Chatrier and there was a lot of wind.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why would they keep the roof open when it was crazy windy,鈥� Sabalenka said. 鈥淚t was very dirty tennis. I don鈥檛 know how people could actually just sit there and watch me play.鈥�
Kalinskaya also struggled.
鈥淚 feel like I was fighting against the wind,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was cold today, so the ball was going slower. I couldn鈥檛 use my speed, my power.鈥� ___
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