Sabalenka's French Open Bid Ends in Bizarre Quarter-Final Defeat to Shnaider

Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a first French Open title was left in tatters as she fell apart in a bizarre defeat by Russian 25th seed Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. The world No 1 led by a set and a double-break before exiting the tournament in a blaze of unforced errors, collapsing to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss in blustery conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier. Shnaider will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals on Thursday. World No 114 Chwalinska continued her stunning run on Wednesday by beating 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya to become just the second women’s qualifier to reach the last four at Roland Garros in the professional era. Chwalinska again defied the odds to down the Russian 7-6, 6-3 at the quarter-final stage. Sabalenka was the only grand slam champion left in either the men’s or women’s singles draws, but belied that status by making a whopping 57 unforced errors.