Aryna Sabalenka is out of Roland Garros, having lost to Diana Shnaider in inexplicable fashion.
Having led by a set and a double break, it seemed certain that the world number one would be progressing into yet another semi-final despite the blustery conditions.
However, in rather spectacular fashion, the Belarusian began to implode.
From 4-1 up in the second set, Aryna Sabalenka won just one more game for the rest of the match, losing 6-4, 5-7, 0-6.
Chris Evert, who was on the call for the match, was stunned.
Chris Evert left stunned by Aryna Sabalenka meltdown
Speaking live on TNT Sports’ broadcast, the American tennis legend was also highly critical of Sabalenka, whose performance mirrored her infamous meltdown on this stage in the final a year ago.
Evert admitted, straight after the match: “I cannot believe what I just saw. Diana Shnaider coming back, it looked like she was going to lose that match, but she just hung in there.
What’s next for Aryna Sabalenka after shock French Open exit?
“Aryna’s dream will have to wait another year to try and win the French Open. She just did not have her timing today and did not react to the wind well at all. She was flat-footed, off balance, and she just did not have a good day.”
Then, having been given time to digest this stunning scoreline, she returned with arguably even more passion.
Evert added: “I am in shock. It was one of the strangest matches I have ever seen. Where a number one player in the world can be up pretty comfortably and then her timing went off, and she was not adjusting to the wind.
“Does she not know how to play in the wind? Most top players know how to make those adjustments and are a bit more flexible, but she kept aiming for the lines, which I didn’t think was very smart.
“Then at 4-1 Diana started hitting those forehands down the lines, and she just went for broke. She thought she was out of the match, and had nothing to lose. She went for forehands down the line and just kept up the pace and never let up. It was an unbelievable match; she is here to stay.”
This comes just shy of a year after Tracy Austin slammed Sabalenka for her reaction to losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff.
Aryna Sabalenka repeats 2025 Roland Garros final disaster
Speaking of that Roland Garros final, there were worrying similarities between that match and today, as Sabalenka once again blew a big lead in a crucial match.
However, what makes this year’s loss even tougher to take is the fact that the draw was so wide open.
She would have had to play qualifier Maja Chwalińska next in the semi-finals, and then either Marta Kostyuk or Mirra Andreeva. Both are in excellent form, but lack any experience in major finals.
Who do you think is getting to the Roland Garros final? 👀
It’s well known that the wind can appear quite suddenly, and quite violently in Paris.
This is a second consecutive year where it has completely nullified Sabalenka’s game and sent her into a meltdown.
As Evert notes, her stubbornness to change her powerful, aggressive play style because of these conditions is frustrating to watch. As the best player in the world, she simply needs to do better at dealing with such adversity. She has too much talent to let something as routine as the wind stop her from winning the title her phenomenal qualities deserve.
