World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's campaign at Roland-Garros unravelled in the wind on Wednesday as she lost 10 consecutive games to Diana Shnaider, falling 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the women's quarterfinals. Sabalenka, the four-time Grand Slam champion and overwhelming favourite, held a commanding position at 6-3, 5-3 before her game collapsed entirely, producing 57 unforced errors across the match. According to Roland-Garros, Sabalenka later acknowledged the mental toll, saying she "got into a very deep, dark hole" and could not recover.
Why this matters for Canadian tennis
Félix Auger-Aliassime's run at the French Open ended in the men's quarterfinals when No. 10 seed Flavio Cobolli defeated him 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Cobolli, seeded 10th, struggled early with just four winners and 16 unforced errors in the opening set but adjusted his game plan over the final three sets, using his heavy forehand to control rallies. Auger-Aliassime, the fourth seed, lost his form as the match progressed.
Unprecedented semifinal lineup
The 2026 French Open will be the first major since 1977 without a former Grand Slam champion in the semifinals on either side. In the women's draw, Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska reached the last four by defeating Anna Kalinskaya 7-6, 6-3, becoming the sixth qualifier ever to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, will face Shnaider on Thursday, while Mirra Andreeva (the eighth seed) plays Marta Kostyuk (15th seed) in the other women's semifinal.
On the men's side, Cobolli will face Matteo Arnaldi in an all-Italian semifinal on Friday. Arnaldi advanced when Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire due to a hip injury in the second set of their quarterfinal. Alexander Zverev of Germany remains the clear favourite to claim his first Grand Slam title, having reached the semifinals after defeating Rafa Jódar in the quarterfinals.
Cobolli guaranteed top-10 ranking
Cobolli's semifinal appearance guarantees him a spot inside the ATP top 10 for the first time in his career. According to CBS Sports, the Italian has compiled a 4-18 record all-time against top-10 opponents, with all four wins coming on clay. The women's semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, while the men's semifinals will take place Friday.
Sources
- Roland-Garros: Roland-Garros wrap - Wed June 3. Roland-Garros official site, 2026-06-04.
- The Sporting Base: Maja Chwalinska and Diana Shnaider shockingly reach 2026 French Open semifinals. The Sporting Base, 2026-06-04.
- Bleacher Report: French Open 2026 Results, Day 11 Bracket Winners, Losers, Highlights & Day 12 Roland-Garros Schedule. Bleacher Report, 2026-06-03.
- CBS Sports: 2026 French Open bracket, schedule, dates: Semifinal matchups set with first-time winners in both tournaments. CBS Sports, 2026-06-03.
Reported from public sources.