Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked tennis player in the world, experienced a shocking defeat at the French Open on Wednesday. The Belarusian athlete was on the brink of securing a spot in the semifinals after winning the first set 6-3 against Russia’s Diana Shnaider and leading 5-3 in the second set. However, Shnaider mounted an impressive comeback, taking the second set 7-5 and dominating the third set without losing a game.

Shnaider’s Remarkable Performance

Shnaider, who turned professional in 2023 after playing collegiate tennis at NC State, demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill during the match. A pivotal moment occurred during a deuce in the second game of the third set when Shnaider executed a stunning shot that left Sabalenka flat-footed. This victory propels Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal, where she will face Poland’s Maja Chwalinska.

Ranked 23rd in the world, Shnaider enters the semifinal as the favorite, while Chwalinska, ranked outside the top 100, will be the underdog. This year’s French Open has been full of surprises, with several top-seeded players facing unexpected exits.

Surprises at the 2026 French Open

The tournament has seen its share of upsets, including World No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s second-round loss to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo, despite Sinner winning the first two sets. On the women’s side, the highest-seeded player remaining is No. 8 Mirra Andreeva. Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev is favored to win the men’s title as he advances to the semifinals.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.