Aryna Sabalenka’s loss yesterday, on paper, was totally inexplicable.
Except, it wasn’t. It was actually frustratingly predictable.
After all, for anyone who watched last year’s Roland Garros final, when they saw the blustery conditions swirling around Philippe Chatrier, they will have instantly feared for the world number one.
During that 2025 match, Aryna Sabalenka famously self-destructed, unable to deal with the wind, and effectively handed Coco Gauff the title. Her press conference exploits afterwards only added insult to injury.
What’s next for Aryna Sabalenka after shock French Open exit?
Then, history repeated itself again yesterday against Diana Shnaider.
Despite inarguably being a better tennis player than both of these opponents, the Belarusian was thwarted by the wind, blowing one-set leads, and even losing the third set against her compatriot by a shocking 6-0 margin.
That is why, after watching her crash out of the tournament yesterday, Sam Querrey has now called for Roland Garros to change a crucial rule.
Roland Garros must make a rule change after Aryna Sabalenka’s loss
If this rule were to come into play, Sabalenka might become a totally dominant force at the French Open. For now, it remains a really tough environment, both due to the conditions and emotionally.
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, he argued: “Everyone keeps talking about, ‘Can Sabalenka not deal with the wind because last year in the final she lost?’ But she was up 6-3, 4-1 with two breaks and served for the match here. It was not the wind! She could easily have won that match three and two.
“Shnaider just worked the ball into the court; yes, it was windy, but Sabalenka just got frustrated and got into a dark place when she didn’t win that second. It was one of the few times you saw her mentally collapse.
“Having said that, I wish when the weather was windy and cold, just close the roof.”
This prompted Steve Johnson to echo that sentiment: “I get it – it’s an outdoor tournament, and you are supposed to play in the elements, but from a standpoint of playing, it’s so much better indoors.”
Querrey then explained how such a rule change would also benefit the fans, adding: “15,000 fans in there have paid money to watch your sport. Make sure they are comfortable too! Close the roof!”
John Isner argued that, had the roof been closed, there was no way Shnaider would have won the match. However, Johnson then argued: “That is why you play! As a guy who wanted it to be gross and windy, keep the roof open!”
Aryna Sabalenka reacts to the decision to keep the roof open
Sabalenka addressed the roof staying open for their match in her post-match press conference.
Unsurprisingly, she was far from happy.
The world number one argued: “That’s another question – I don’t know why they would keep the roof open when it was crazy windy.”
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However, Sabalenka did not want this to be the overriding excuse, as she added: “But how can I complain if for almost the whole match everything was working okay for me, and then it just slipped away?
“I feel like it was getting crazy maybe just because mentally I wasn’t really okay. I remember even from last year they kept the roof open for us, and then the next day, in similar conditions, they closed it for the men – to make better conditions and better quality of tennis, I believe. I don’t know why they would keep it open. Even though I was winning, it was very dirty tennis. I don’t know how people could actually sit there and watch.”
Venus Williams admitted she was sad hearing Sabalenka’s reaction to this loss.
