World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka stunned as Diana Shnaider pulls off huge French Open upset
Diana Shnaider produced one of the biggest upsets of Roland Garros 2026, stunning World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 to reach her maiden Grand Slam semi-final. The Russian appeared headed for defeat when she trailed 3-6, 3-5 in the second set, with Sabalenka just two points away from victory. However, Shnaider mounted a remarkable comeback, completely turning the match on its head.
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From the brink of elimination, she broke Sabalenka’s serve six consecutive times and stormed to an unforgettable victory. The triumph marked her first career win over a top-ranked player and only her second victory over a top-10 opponent, making the achievement even more significant.
Sabalenka had not dropped a set throughout the tournament before the quarter-final, but Shnaider ended that flawless run in stunning fashion. Having already knocked out Grand Slam champion Madison Keys in the fourth round, the Russian added another major champion to her list of scalps with a career-defining performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
SHNAIDER BATTLES WINDY CONDITIONS
Prior to Wednesday’s quarter-final, Diana Shnaider had never faced Aryna Sabalenka on the WTA Tour. Although she did not show it on court, the Russian later admitted she was nervous about taking on the World No. 1 for the first time and initially struggled to adapt to the windy conditions. However, Shnaider stayed focused on one point at a time, reminding herself of the challenge in front of her while fighting for every ball.
“Honestly, I’m speechless. I’m super happy. Obviously, today was a little tough with the windy conditions. It was my first time playing Aryna, and I was super nervous. Playing in the quarterfinals for the first time, the first set was about adjusting to her game, the conditions, and the wind, and figuring out how to play,” Shnaider said.
I was just trying to focus point by point and not think about the score. I kept telling myself, ‘It’s okay, these are tough conditions. She’s the World No. 1.’ So I just tried to do my best until the end and see how it went.
“I fought for every point, ran for every ball, and tried to put one more shot back into the court,” Shnaider added.
HOW SHNAIDER TOOK DOWN SABALENKA
Shnaider produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of Roland Garros 2026 to stun Sabalenka in front of a packed house in Paris. For much of the match, Sabalenka looked firmly in control. The Belarusian dominated the opening set and then surged into a 4-1 lead in the second, overwhelming Shnaider with her power and precision.
At that stage, the top seed appeared to be cruising towards victory. However, Shnaider refused to back down. The Russian gradually worked her way back into the contest, earning one break before continuing to apply pressure on Sabalenka’s serve. Even after missing four break-point opportunities in one game, she stayed patient and eventually levelled the set at 5-5.
The momentum shifted dramatically from that point. Shnaider won five of the last six games of the second set to claim it 7-5, leaving Sabalenka rattled heading into the decider. Sensing her opportunity, the Russian raised her level even further in the third set.
She broke serve early and never allowed Sabalenka to recover, racing through the set. In a stunning collapse, Sabalenka lost her serve six consecutive times as Shnaider completed a sensational victory.
– Ends
