The wind whipped across Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday and so did the upsets, as the concluding day of singles quarterfinals at Roland Garros swept aside the women’s world No.1 and the men’s No.4 seed, guaranteeing a first-time Grand Slam champion in the women’s draw and an Italian in Sunday’s men’s final.
Sabalenka stunned The biggest jolt came in the last women’s quarterfinal, where Diana Shnaider, the world No.23, recovered from a set and 4-1 down to overhaul top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka had served for the match at 5-4 in the second set and stood two points from victory before her game unravelled in the breezy conditions.
Shnaider reeled off 10 consecutive games to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, reaching her first major semifinal and claiming a first career win over a world No.1. “Mentally I got into a deep, deep dark hole,” Sabalenka admitted afterward. With the top seed gone, one of Shnaider, Maja Chwalinska, Marta Kostyuk or Mirra Andreeva will lift the trophy on Saturday.
A qualifier’s fairytale Earlier, Chwalinska kept her improbable run alive. The Polish qualifier, ranked No.114, beat No.22 seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 to become only the second qualifier to reach the women’s semifinals here in the Open era. It was her eighth win since arriving for qualifying at the start of Opening Week, a run projected to lift her 84 places to No.30 in the live rankings. She next faces Shnaider.
Cobolli’s breakthrough On the men’s side, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli recovered from losing the opening set to topple No.4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 under the closed Chatrier roof. The 24-year-old from Rome reached his first Grand Slam semifinal and a career-high live ranking of No.10. “It’s been the best week of my life,” he said on court.
Berrettini’s heartbreak The night session brought a sombre end to the day. Matteo Berrettini, into the Roland Garros last eight for the first time in five years, retired in tears with a hip injury while trailing compatriot Matteo Arnaldi 5-7, 2-5 after exactly two hours. Arnaldi, the world No.104, advances to his maiden Grand Slam semifinal as only the second man to win a Roland Garros quarterfinal by retirement in the Open era. The result sets up the first all-Italian semifinal at Roland Garros in the Open era, and the first all-Italian Grand Slam semifinal since 1976.
Looking ahead The women’s semifinals come first, on Thursday, with Andreeva meeting Kostyuk and Shnaider facing Chwalinska. The men follow on Friday, Cobolli against Arnaldi for a guaranteed Italian finalist, alongside Alexander Zverev against Jakub Mensik in the other half. The women’s final is scheduled for Saturday, the men’s for Sunday.
