Down goes No. 1 — and in spectacular fashion.
Aryna Sabalenka had a stunning meltdown in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday morning, losing to Russia’s Diana Shnaider after holding a commanding lead.
Sabalenka was up a set and 5-3 in the second — one game from a spot in the semifinals — when her game completely unraveled in the windy Paris conditions.
Schnaider would win the next 10 games for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory on Philippe-Chatrier.
Despite her lead in the second set, Sabalenka remained frustrated as her game deteriorated before it all came apart.
Shnaider, 22, is Russian-born and played her college tennis at NC State. In a tournament that has been filled with upsets, Shnaider will now face 114th-ranked qualifier Maja Chwalińska in a semifinal matchup no one would have predicted.
Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva will play in the other semifinal.
