PARIS, June 3: Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka wasted a lead of a set and two breaks to lose 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 to Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The four-time major winner Sabalenka led 4-1 in the second set and was two points from victory when serving for the match at 5-4 before completely collapsing against a player appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Sabalenka stood still and screamed loudly after losing a point to fall 0-30 down in the sixth game of the decider and, although she saved two match points at 0-40 down, she lost the match when she sent a shot into the net.
Sabalenka showed similar nerves when she lost in last year’s final to Coco Gauff.
CHWALINSKA’S DREAM RUN CONTINUES
Maja Chwalinska extended her remarkable French Open run by beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3 Wednesday to reach the semifinals.
The unseeded Chwalinska came through three qualifying rounds to become only the second Polish woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros, along with four-time champion Iga Swiatek.
Kalinskaya’s wild shot at the net gave Chwalinska a match point and she converted it when Kalinskaya’s big forehand from the back of the court went out.
The 24-year-old Chwalinska put her hand over her mouth and then her face in her hands in near disbelief.
“I honestly don’t know what’s going on. Every single match here is kind of crazy for me,” she said.
“I was definitely nervous. I’m stressed of course but I try and focus on my job, on my game.”
Chwalinska had never been beyond the second round at any major before this tournament.
“I’m playing against the best players in the world,” she said. “I won’t compare myself to them.”
Her next opponent will be the winner of Wednesday’s last remaining women’s quarterfinal between top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up, and No. 25 Diana Shnaider.
Whatever happens next, she has already doubled her career earnings.
Chwalinska’s total prize money before this tournament was $864,030 and reaching the last four here earns her 750,000 euros (about $872,000).
JAKUB MENSIK THROUGH
Less than a week ago, Jakub Mensik was pushed away from the court in a wheelchair after collapsing to the clay with cramps.
Now the 20-year-old Czech player is in the French Open semifinals.
The 6-foot-5 Mensik used his attacking game to end the run of Brazil’s Joao Fonseca with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
It was Mensik’s most convincing performance so far at Roland Garros after struggling physically in the heat wave during the opening week.
After Mensik edged Mariano Navone in a fifth-set tiebreaker in the second round, he fell to the clay after match point and required medical attention on the court after Navone went over to check on him.Mensik was eventually helped up and limped off the court, then was pushed away in a wheelchair.
Two days later, Mensik still appeared weak when he dropped the opening set 6-0 to Alex de Minaur. But then he won three straight sets. “After the cramps and super dehydrations, I needed to put as much fluids as I could inside of me,” Mensik said after beating De Minaur. “I came back strong enough to compete again on the highest level and in this these very cruel conditions.” (PTI)
