Dusted! Shnaider Shocks Sabalenka, Streaks Into Maiden RG Semifinal

By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty

Yelping from flapping flags atop Court Philippe Chatrier amplified as Aryna Sabalenka faced fierce turbulence on the terre battue below. 

Spiraling through a 10-game free fall, Sabalenka suffered the most shocking collapse of this crazy and chaotic clay-court major.

Left-handed Diana Shnaider, severe stress and a wild wind conspired to topple world No. 1 Sabalenka 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 and charge into her maiden major semifnial in one of the most unlikely upsets in recent Roland Garros history.

“Yeah, I don’t know when was the last time that happened to me that I lost 10 games in a row,” Sabalenka said. “I don’t know. I guess mentally I got into very deep, deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn’t get back mentally on track.”

Winless in 11 straight matches vs. Top 10 opponents, Shnaider started stepping inside the baseline to impose her forehand as the top seed imploded.

“Obviously, I’m speechless,” said Shnaider. “I’m super happy. Obviously today, tough condition with the wind. 

“My first time facing Aryna. I was super nervous, quarterfinals for first time so definitely a lot of nerves.”

The top-seeded Sabalenka was in command leading 6-3, 4-1, 30-Love when Shnaider turned up the heat on her favored forehand and Sabalenka sputtered, stumbled and ultimately crumbled amid swirling winds that sometimes spiked at 35 miles an hour.

Contesting her maiden major quarterfinal, Shnaider denied Sabalenka a 400th Tour-level win, posting her first career win over a world No. 1.

“It’s definitely a super special week,” Shnaider said. “I feel like in the third set I finally found my rhythm and how to play, where to be more defensive, where to attack. 

“I feel like the third set is one I should be aiming for from the beginning. Definitely a super special tournament for me here.”

It’s a deeply disappointing defeat for Sabalenka, who squandered a 3-0 third-set lead bowing to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final in January. 

Today, Sabalenka was in charge, lost her range and confidence and never regained it, dropping to 13-2 in Slam quarterfinals.

Two years after Shnaider and buddy Mirra Andreeva won the Olympic silver doubles gold medal at Roland Garros it’s possible the doubles partners could square off in the French Open final.

The 25th-seeded Schnaider will face another left-handed surprise semifinalist—Maja Chwalinska—for a spot in Saturday’s final.

Earlier, world No. 114 Chwalinska continued her Cinderella run through the field. 

Relying on comprehensive court coverage, Chwalinska toppled 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 to become the second qualifier to reach the Roland Garros semifinals—and first since Nadia Podoroska in 2020.  

Though she blew a 5-1 lead amid the bluster, Chwalinska kept her cool and deployed her variety masterfully mixing higher looping topspin with slithering slice to deny the flat-hitting Russian the repetition she craves.

Five years ago, Emma Raducanu made history as the only qualifier, man or woman, to ever play through qualifying and win a Grand Slam singles title with her inspired run to the US Open championship. Qualifier Chwalinska embraces adaptability on the dirt.

“t’s just my game, you know. I just try to change the rhythm a lot,” Chwalinska said. “I feel like it’s
pretty tough to play against this kind of style, because you don’t have any rhythm, and you just need to be very focused because every ball can be different.

“Yeah, I’m aware that it can be very annoying for other players. I just try to use it as much as I can.”

The unruly wind created conditions similar to the 2025 French Open final when a calm Coco Gauff mastered the elements and a volatile Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 to take a title that seemed to have Sabalenka’s finger prints all over it.

Today, Sabalenka was six points from a final return when her drives began flying, Shnaider started spreading the court and the wind wreaked havoc with the Belarusian’s mind.

Thumping her lefty forehand menacing intent, Shnaider slammed 19 of her 25 winners off the forehand wing that Sabalenka struggled to read. In the final set, Shnaider mixed the inside out forehand with some crackling forehand strikes down the lines sometimes forcing the most powerful player in the sport into slip-sliding defensive stabs and plaintive grunts.

“I just think it’s combination of everything. You overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you, I don’t know, you miss opportunities,” Sabalenka said. “Then the other player on another side kind of like
stepping in and start playing a bit more aggressively and more free, kind of like fearless. You know, sometimes it’s really tough to hold the pressure and put it back on the opponent.”

On a gloomy and windy day, players face an unpredictable breeze that blew the ball around the clay—and sent a puff of crushed red brick into Shnaider’s eyes a few times.

Sabalenka unleashed a backhand barrage crosscourt, banging out the first break for a 3-1 lead.

The top seed saved a pair of break points then bolted a backhand strike for a 4-1 lead after 25 minutes of play.

Throughout the set, Sabalenka dabbed the drop shot to drag Shnaider forward. An angled drop shot and backhand pass propelled Sabalenka through another break and a 5-1 advantage

Waiting for a wind gust to subside, Sabalenka turned her attention back to the court, jamming a forehand down the line for set point.

“It’s too much,” Sabalenka said of the wind after double faulting away set point.

Sabalanka scattered a couple of forehands in the wind dropping serve in the seventh game.

Serving for the set again at 5-3, Sabalenka paused play again to let the whipping wind calm a bit then bashed a backhand into net. Shnaider had a break point but missed a good look at a forehand she hit behind the Belarusian.

When Shnaider scattered a backhand, Sabalanka sewed up a tricky 47-minute opening set where the bluster sometimes intruded as a third character in the drama.

The 2025 finalist Sabalenka more than tripled Shnaider’s winner output—19 to 6—including winning six of seven trips to the net.

A brief burst of wind ruffled the bottom of Sabalenka’s charcoal dress as she started the second set with force of nature aggression snatching a 2-0 lead.

Empowered by the lead, Sabalenka effectively extended it.

Stepping into the court, Sabalenka curled a crosscourt forehand winner converting her fourth break point in as many chances for a 4-1 lead.

The world No. 1 was up 4-1, 30-Love when cracks began creeping into her game and the left-hander across the net began firing her forehand with more ambition and accuracy. Sabalenka double faulted back a break in the sixth game.

Digging out of a triple break-point deficit, Sabalenka saved four break points in all, holding for 5-3.

Serving for the semifinal at 5-4, Sabalenka stumbled bungling a forehand volley. On break point, Shnaider smacked a forehand winner down the line breaking to level, 5-all. 

Using the wind as an ally, Shnaider looped a lob winner over the 5’11” Belarusian for 30-all in the 12th game. Attacking a second serve, the Russian belted a backhand back into the Belarusian’s ribcage, rattling out an error for set point.

Reading the second serve, Shnaider smacked another deep return biting into the body breaking to take the second set. From 1-4 down, Shnaider streaked through six of the last seven games after one hour, 41 minutes.

Serving against the wind, Shnaider started the final set stamping a strong hold for her fifth game in a row.

Willful wind kicked up the part of the tarp against the back wall and threatened to decapitate a couple of court-side flowers as Sabalenka stared down a Shnaider shot-making storm. 

The left-hander lashed a forehand return down the line then lifted another forehand down the line for break point. Sabalenka blocked a forehand volley to save it.  A short backhand volley winner from Sabalenka staved off a second break point. 

Stiff-arming a backhand into the middle of the net, Sabalenka faced a fourth break point. This time, Shnaider made her pay.

Dancing around a backhand, Shnaider slashed a forehand winner scoring her third consecutive break and sixth straight game for 2-0. Shnaider was piercing the top seed’s defense holding her forehand for a split second then whipping it down the line.

The lone Grand Slam champion standing in either singles field was grunting loudly, breathing heavily and failing to consistently clear the net as Shnaider backed up the break for a 3-0 lead.

Sabalenka’s stunning spiral continued as Shnaider burned her with the drive down the line again before the Belarusian sailed another drive. Muttering frustrations to her box, Sabalenka surrendered serve and looked done as her free fall extended to eight games in a row.

In a shocking role-reversal, Shnaider looked like the world beat and world No. 1 Sabalenka looked shell-shocked seeing the Russian roll to a 5-0 lead.

Shnaider closed in two hours, 12 minutes and now stands one win from a maiden major final.