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06/03/26 09:20:00
Printable Page
06/03 09:18 CDT Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka goes out of the French Open after
quarterfinal defeat to Diana Shnaider
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka goes out of the French Open after quarterfinal
defeat to Diana Shnaider
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka wasted a lead of a set and two breaks
to lose 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 to Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarterfinals on
Wednesday.
The four-time major winner led 4-1 in the second set and was two points from
victory when serving for the match at 5-4 before completely collapsing against
a player appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
"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."
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 the match when she sent a shot into the net. In all, she
lost 12 of the last 13 games.
Earlier, Wednesday, Maja Chwalinska extended her remarkable French Open run by
beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3 Wednesday.
For Sabalenka, her struggles were reminiscent of last year's final against Coco
Gauff, when she remonstrated loudly, shouting to herself and glaring at her
team box before losing to the American.
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.
But Shnaider, who was already on her best run at a major, broke Sabelenka
before taking complete control.
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 for a few moments.
The momentum had changed and the Belarusian was unable to find a way back. -__
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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