By: Osabuohien Imuetinyanosa
A striking comeback from Diana Shnaider stunned all eyes as she sent the world number one
Aryna Sabalenka packing with 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 and advance to her first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open.
The come back of Shnaider was from a set and a double-break down in difficult windy conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 22-year-old won the final 10 games of the match after being just two points from defeat.
With defending champion Coco Gauff and four-time winner Iga Świątek already eliminated, the women’s singles race has been blown wide open.
Shnaider admitted that she was nervous in her first match against Sabalenka but summoned courage and resilience on each point and fought for every opportunity.
Sabalenka, runner-up last year, blamed her collapse largely on mental struggles after letting the second set slip away. The defeat ended her run of six consecutive Grand Slam semi-final appearances.
“I feel mentally I couldn’t really recover after the second set,” Sabalenka said. “I got into a very deep, dark hole and just couldn’t get back on track.”
She will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalińska in the semi-finals.
