Aryna Sabalenka may have exited Roland Garros a few days ago now, but her comments after are still echoing around the tournament.
After all, when the world number one insists she wants to ‘quit tennis’ after a loss, it’s bound to draw attention.
Naturally, this came from a place of pure emotion, and was not indicative of her true feelings despite how damaging her defeat to Diana Shnaider had been.
With that being said, Aryna Sabalenka has still had to come out on social media to confirm that she will, in fact, not be retiring from tennis at 28 and as the best player in the world because of one loss.
Aryna Sabalenka’s first social media post since losing at Roland Garros
Taking to Instagram, the Belarusian’s message was a short one.
Realistically, there is not much left to say after what was an inexplicable collapse, having led by a set and a double-break, yet somehow still lost the match.
What’s next for Aryna Sabalenka after shock French Open exit?
After the match, Sabalenka criticised Roland Garros for not closing the roof, which would have negated the windy conditions that contributed to her downfall.
However, she clearly managed to see the funny side of the reaction to her comments, writing: “Still love you, Paris. I’ll be back. Definitely not quitting. Allez!”
Sam Querrey actually called on the French Open to change one of their rules following her loss.
What’s next for Aryna Sabalenka after the French Open?
The only possible benefit Sabalenka can take from her early exit at Roland Garros is the fact that it will afford her more time to rest and then transition to the grass.
And, it should be pretty easy to map out her schedule over the next month or so, given it has rarely deviated year on year.
How do you feel about the roofs not being closed for strong wind? 😬
We will likely see Sabalenka next at the German Open, an event which she has played every year since it returned to the calendar in 2021. It will run between June 21st and June 27th, leading her up to Wimbledon perfectly.
Then, the world’s best player will hope to surpass her semi-final run from last year, where she was surprisingly beaten by Amanda Anisimova.
With her explosive power and the deft touch she has added to her game, it’s expected that Sabalenka will thrive on the grass this year.
However, conditions will clearly have to favour her, given how easily they can disturb her game if they turn.
