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A disappointed Aryna Sabalenka said she felt like “quitting tennis” after her shock French Open quarter-final loss to Diana Schneider on Wednesday.
The world number one, who has never won a title at Roland-Garros, is a huge favorite for the trophy, having already knocked out defending champion Coco Gough, four-time champion Iga Suatek and 2026 Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina. Enjoy yourself an impossible exit.
Sabalenka broke up a set and double against the 22-year-old Schneider in Paris, but from 6-3 5-3 in front, she failed to win another game in a stunning 3-6 7-5 6-0 collapse.
“No worries, no emotions. I want to quit tennis now, but we’ll see in a few days. Hopefully I’ll be back on track mentally,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference.
“I think I had a pretty decent chance in the second set. I was bad, and then he came in and he played great.
“I feel mentally that I didn’t really recover after the second set. I think that was the biggest mistake from me.
Sabalenka won the first set 6-3 – leading 5-1 – and then double broke up 4-1 in the second before turning the match.
“I don’t know the last time I lost 10 games in a row. I think mentally I fell into a very deep, dark hole and I couldn’t get back on track mentally.
“Actually I have to step back and try to find a solution, because I’m too tired because I lost some matches and I was too emotional.”
As Shanaida resolutely fails to give up on anything, Sabalenka’s frustrations and errors grow
For Sabalenka, his struggle was reminiscent of last year’s final against Goff, as he shouted to himself and looked to his team box before finally losing the contest.
“I’ve been through a lot, and I’ve overcome a lot,” he said. “I just have to understand that little thing that sometimes doesn’t work for me and hopefully I can overcome it.
“I don’t know (how I’ll go back). I don’t know. I don’t know.
“You know those rooms where you go and break everything? I’ll probably spend the whole day tomorrow destroying things in there.”
Sabalenka’s defeat means her quest for a maiden French Open title is on
‘I don’t understand why the roof is left open – but I can’t complain’
Sabalenka’s increasing frustration and number of errors – in addition to Schneider’s tenacity and determination – a strong wind at the Paris venue was a factor in the contest.
Sabalenka said that given the conditions, he thought the roof should have been closed at Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“That’s another question – I don’t know why they kept the roof open when it was crazy windy,” she said.
“But how can I complain if everything worked fine for me for almost the whole match and then it went away?
“I think it was going crazy because mentally I wasn’t really right. I remember from last year they kept the roof open for us, and the next day, in similar circumstances, they closed it for the men – for better conditions and to improve the quality of tennis, I believe.
“I don’t know why they kept it open. Even though I won, it was very dirty tennis. I don’t know how people could sit there and watch. And then at one point he went in and played unbelievable.”
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