By Shrivathsa Sridhar
PARIS, June 3 (Reuters) – Russian outsider Diana Shnaider battled from a set and a double break down to shock world number one Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 7-5 6-0 in blustery conditions and charge into the French Open semi-finals on a windswept Wednesday.
In a tournament that has witnessed several shocks including the exits of defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times winner Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka’s defeat sent another jolt through the wide-open women’s draw.
Shnaider reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final after an inspired battle in which she won the last 10 games having been two points away from defeat, and she takes on Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the last four.
“Obviously, the first time playing Aryna, I was super nervous. The first set, I was trying to adjust to her game, trying to figure out how to play,” Shnaider said.
“I feel like I was trying to focus point by point, not thinking about the score. She’s the world number one, so I just tried to do my best. I just had to fight for every point.
“It’s definitely a super special win. I feel in the third set I finally found my rhythm and how to play and where to be a bit more. The third set was the one I should be aiming for from the beginning. Super happy to finish on a good note.”
The conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier proved a massive challenge for both players as they affected precise shot-making, but Sabalenka found her groove to open up a 5-1 advantage before she dropped serve when the wind began to really swirl.
“I don’t know why would they keep the roof open when it’s crazy windy,” Sabalenka told reporters.
“But how can I complain, if for almost the whole match everything was working okay for me, but then it just slipped away. I feel like it was getting crazy maybe just because mentally I wasn’t really okay.”
FRUSTRATED BELARUSIAN
The frustrated Belarusian let out a scream after netting a backhand to give Shnaider another breakpoint, but she composed herself again to wrap up the first set in 49 minutes and punch the air to loud applause from the crowd.
Russian 25th seed Shnaider dropped her level in the second set to fall behind again before mounting a spectacular comeback to erase a double break and level at 5-5 and drag four-times major champion Sabalenka into a decider.
The powerful left-hander’s forehand caused all kinds of issues early in the final set for Sabalenka, and the 22-year-old broke for a 2-0 lead with a crosscourt winner before holding firm to seal the win.
Last year’s runner-up Sabalenka cut a dejected figure after a defeat that ended her streak of six straight Grand Slam semi-finals and she did not mince her words.
“No thoughts, no emotions. I just want to quit tennis right now, but we’ll see in A few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally,” Sabalenka said.
“I feel I had very decent opportunities in the second set. I screwed up, and then she stepped in and she played great. I feel mentally I couldn’t really recover after second set. I think that was the biggest mistake from me.
“I don’t know when the last time was (that) I lost 10 games in a row. I guess mentally I got into very deep, dark hole over there and I just couldn’t get back on track.”
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Christian Radnedge and Ed Osmond)
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