Aryna Sabalenka Withdraws from French Open in Stunning Upset

Aryna Sabalenka’s journey at Roland Garros took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as she withdrew from the French Open after seemingly closing in on a semifinal spot. The world number one won the first set against Russia’s Diana Schneider 6-3 and initially held a 5-3 lead in the second set, needing just one more game to secure her place in the final four. However, an unexpected twist altered the match’s outcome.

Schneider made a remarkable comeback, winning the second set 7-5 and carried that momentum forward, dominating in the third set without dropping a game. A crucial moment occurred early in the third set when Sabalenka faced a deuce situation while attempting to hold serve.

After landing a forehand over the net, Schneider moved in quickly, catching Sabalenka off guard entirely. The four-time Grand Slam champion appeared stunned, raising her hands in disbelief as she reacted to Schneider’s impressive shot.

Now, Schneider, who turned pro in 2023 after her collegiate career at North Carolina State, is set to face Poland’s Maja Czwalinska in her first Grand Slam semifinal. Interestingly, Schneider is ranked 23rd in the world and is favored to advance, while Czwalinska is positioned outside the top 100.

Schneider’s victory over Sabalenka exemplifies the upsets that have characterized the 2026 French Open, where unexpected results have become the norm. On the men’s side, world number one Yannick Siner faced an early defeat in the second round against Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundro, even after winning the first two sets of that match.

As the tournament progresses, the highest remaining seed on the women’s side is No. 8 Mila Andreeva, while the No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev stands out among the men heading into the semi-finals.