Aryna Sabalenka ‘just wants to quit tennis’ after French Open defeat

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka said after her three-set French Open quarterfinal loss to Diana Shnaider that she “wants to quit tennis” and will take time to sort out her emotions before returning to the court.

Sabalenka blew a one-set and two-break lead against Shnaider before getting blitzed in the third set of the 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss.

“Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after the match. “We’ll see in a few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.”

“I don’t know when’s the last time that happened to me where I lost 10 games in a row. I guess mentally I got into a very deep, deep dark hole & I couldn’t get back mentally on track.”

The loss was similar to what Sabalenka, who will retain the No. 1 ranking despite the defeat, suffered in the French Open final to Coco Gauff last year, in which she blamed the wind and her 70 unforced errors for the defeat rather than anything Gauff did to win the match. She also lost control of her emotions, at times screaming, and looked to her team box for answers.

Sabalenka also screamed loudly after losing a point in the third set against Shnaider.

“You know those rooms where you just go in, and you smash everything,” Sabalenka said. “Probably I will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it will help, maybe not.”

“No thoughts, no emotions. Just want to quit tennis right now…”

Aryna Sabalenka after her loss to No. 25 Diana Shnaider 💔 #RolandGarrospic.twitter.com/C87w8mf6XM

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 3, 2026

“I just think it’s combination of everything,” Sabalenka said. “You overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you miss opportunities.”

Shnaider will take on Maja Chwalińska in the semifinals on Thursday. The other semifinal will pit Marta Kostyuk against Mirra Andreeva.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aryna Sabalenka: Top-ranked player ‘wants to quit tennis’ after defeat