Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Wednesday, 03 June 2026 18:16 / Updated on Wednesday, 03 June 2026 18:16
Diana Shnaider (22 years old, world number 23) produced the biggest shock in the women's draw at Roland Garroseliminating in the “quarters” the big favorite, Aryna Sabalenka (28 years old, number 1 WTA). The Russian then explained how she got through the match that brought her career victory so far.
The surprises don't stop at Roland Garros, neither on the men's nor the women's table. In the case of the second, the world leader lasted longer in the tournament, but in the end Aryna Sabalenka she was also knocked down in the quarterfinals.
Diana Schneider it is she who defeated her, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, after two hours and 14 minutes of tennis that turned completely upside down starting at 5-3 for the Belarusian in the second act. For the 22-year-old, former world number 11 in 2025, it is only the second victory over a Top 10 player in her career.
The first was in 2024, in Toronto, in front of him Coco Gauffworld number 2 at the time. Since then, he had collected 11 defeats in a row against opponents from that area of the ranking.
“Honestly, I'm at a loss for words”, said the winner in the on-court interview, conducted by former French player Marion Bartoli.
“I'm very happy. Obviously, the conditions were a little difficult today because of the wind. And obviously, being my first time playing on Center Court, I was very excited. Then I got past the quarter-finals for the first time, so I was definitely very excited“, she continued.
She then explained how, from her point of view, the transition from a lost first set to a 0-0 third set took place.
Diana Shnaider: “In the first set I just tried to adapt to her game”
“I feel like in the first set I was just trying to adjust to her game and then the conditions, the wind, trying to figure out how to play. And I feel like, yeah, I was just trying to focus point by point, not thinking about the scoreShnaider elaborated.
“I said to myself, 'It's okay, it's difficult conditions. I mean, she's world number one, so I'm going to try to give it my best until the end and we'll see how it goes.'” And I fought for every point, trying to run after every ball and send it into the field,” he added.
Being the first time in her career that she has beaten the reigning world number one and the first time that she has reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament, doing all this in one match, the performance is all the more impressive.
Diana Shnaider in action at Roland Garros 2026 Photo: Guliver/GettyImages
Diana Shnaider: “We will take care of the body, let me recover”
“Definitely a super special win. I feel like in the third set I finally found my rhythm and how to play, where to be a little bit more defensive, I'd say, and where to attack. So I feel like the third set game was the one I should have aimed for from the beginning,” explained Diana.
I am very happy that I managed to end on a good note and not start on a good one. It has been a very special tour for me here so far – Diana Schneider
Unlike the schedule so far, this time it will play on consecutive days without a break. Will the routine change a bit to accommodate the semi-final?
Diana said yes, but not too much, that she will train on Thursday, but this day, of the great victory, is reserved for recovery. “I'm going to take care of my body, recover and then we're going to prepare for tomorrow. It's going to be a battle of lefties, so I can't wait,” she concluded.
The Russian woman will meet the Polish woman Maja Chwalinska (24 years old, 114th place in the world), who eliminated on Anna Kalinskayafavorite 22. It will be their second match, the first being won by Shnaider in 2022 at an ITF W60 tournament in Istanbul, 6-4, 6-4.
