Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka goes out of the French Open after quarterfinal defeat to Diana Shnaider

Earlier, Wednesday, Maja Chwalinska extended her remarkable French Open run by beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3 Wednesday.

For Sabalenka, her struggles were reminiscent of last year’s final against Coco Gauff, when she remonstrated loudly, shouting to herself and glaring at her team box before losing to the American.

Sabalenka had already looked agitated when serving for the first set but still looked in control as she served for the match in the second, holding a 30-15 lead.

But Shnaider, who was already on her best run at a major, broke Sabelenka before taking complete control.

Sabalenka looked increasingly frustrated as the third set wore on, and when she missed a volley at the net in the fourth game of the decider she crouched and rested her head on her racket.

The momentum had changed and the Belarusian was unable to find a way back.

Another upset

It was another big upset in a tournament where defending champion Gauff (third round) and four-time winner Iga Swiatek (fourth round) already tumbled out.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner served for the match in a second round defeat, and 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic wasted a two-set lead in a third round loss.

That opened things up for lesser-known players.

From qualifier to contender

The unseeded Chwalinska came through three qualifying rounds to become only the second Polish woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros, along with Swiatek.

“I don’t process it, you know,” Chwalinska said. “But definitely after the tournament finishes, I will have time to be grateful for what happened and process it as well.”

She said British player Emma Raducanu’s run to the 2021 U.S. Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier had inspired her.

“It was such an impressive run, you know,” Chwalinska recalled. “Also, she was so young.”

When Kalinskaya’s big forehand from the back of the court went out, the 24-year-old Chwalinska had her biggest win.

She put her hand over her mouth and then her face in her hands in near disbelief. Chwalinska had never been beyond the second round at any major before this tournament.

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).

Windy conditions

After they traded early breaks of serve amid blustery conditions with the roof open on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Chwalinska clinched the first set at the third opportunity when Kalinskaya’s two-handed backhand sailed long.

“I feel like I was fighting against the wind, against the weather conditions,” Kalinskaya said. “It was cold today, so the ball was going slower. I couldn’t use my speed, my power.”

Men’s matches

In the two remaining men’s quarterfinals, No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime took on No. 10 Flavio Cobolli before unseeded Italians Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi faced off.

All of Wednesday’s matches were held on Chatrier.

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev and No. 26 Jakub Mensik won their quarterfinals Tuesday and will meet in the semifinals. ___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press

by The Canadian Press

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka goes out of the French Open after quarterfinal defeat to Diana Shnaider

What's Trending