PARIS -- Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka wasted a lead of a set and two breaks to lose 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 to Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The four-time major winner led 4-1 in the second set and was two points from victory when serving for the match at 5-4 before completely collapsing against a player appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
"Well, honestly I am speechless. Super happy," Shnaider said. "I feel like I was trying to focus point by point. Not thinking about the score. She is the world No. 1, so ... just trying to do my best. I just had to fight for every point."
Sabalenka stood still and screamed loudly after losing a point to fall 0-30 down in the sixth game of the decider and, although she saved two match points at 0-40 down, she lost the match when she sent a shot into the net. In all, she lost 12 of the last 13 games.
"Just want to quit tennis right now," Sabalenka said after letting the match slip away. "We'll see in few days. Hopefully I'll get back on track mentally."
Sabalenka's struggles on Wednesday 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.
"I just have to sit back and openly think about what's going on in my head in those tough moments," Sabalenka said, recalling that match. "Because I'm quite an experienced player. I have been through so many things, and I overcome so many things."
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 Sabalenka 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 for a few moments.
The momentum had changed and the Belarusian was unable to find a way back.
Shnaider next faces Maja Chwalinska, who extended her remarkable Roland Garros run by beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3.
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.
Chwalinska 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, having never been beyond the second round at any major before this tournament.
Chwalinska's total prize money heading into Roland Garros was $864,030 and reaching the last four here earns her 750,000 euros (about $872,000).
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
