Sabalenka, devastated after falling at Roland Garros: "Right now, I just want to quit tennis"

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A match that she had won and ended in tragedy, that's what happened to Aryna Sabalenka this Wednesday at Roland Garros. The world No.1 packed her bags in a grotesque manner against Diana Shnaider.

Complaints, sour faces, frustration, screams at her team, today's match showed every dark side of Aryna Sabalenka at the Philippe Chatrier. A duel she had once dominated at 6-3, 5-3... until Diana Shnaider put on her work clothes and strung together ten consecutive games. The Russian's victory blows apart the draw at Roland Garros 2026 where, no matter what, we will have a new Grand Slam champion. But before moving on, we must listen to the world No.1 after enduring another great disappointment that will surely weigh on her for a few days.

Here's what Aryna Sabalenka said after being ousted at Roland Garros 2026

"Right now I have no thoughts or emotions. Right now I just want to leave tennis, but we'll see. We'll see in a few days, I hope to recover mentally. I feel like I had very good opportunities in the second set, but I ruined it, and then she stepped up and played very well. Mentally, I couldn't recover after the second set, I believe that was my biggest mistake. I don't know when was the last time I lost ten games in a row, I don't know. I think mentally I fell into a very dark and deep hole and couldn't get out of it anymore."

Sabalenka's complaint against Roland Garros for not closing the roof

"That's another matter, I don't know why they kept the roof open when there was such crazy wind. But of course, how can I complain if for almost the entire match everything was working well for me and then simply slipped away? I think it all started to look like madness maybe because mentally I wasn't well. It seemed like the conditions were becoming extreme; I even remember last year, in our match, they left the roof open, and the next day there were similar conditions, but for the men, they closed the roof to create better conditions and a higher quality tennis. I don't know why they left it open. Even when I was winning, it was messy tennis. I don't know how people could sit there and watch me play. Then, at one point, she stepped up and played incredibly well under those conditions, but I don't know, it's a big question."

Sabalenka continues without Grand Slams on clay and grass

"There are many things, I don't know. I really feel good on clay and grass. I think perhaps I focus too much on the fact that I have never won a Grand Slam on those surfaces, and that makes me think too much and become too emotional at certain times. I don't know, it's something I need to step back from and try to find a solution because I am tired of losing some matches poorly simply because I let myself be carried away by emotions. I think it's a combination of everything, there you think too much, so you make easy mistakes and waste opportunities. Then the other player starts playing more aggressively, freer, and without fear. Sometimes it's really hard to handle the pressure and return it to the opponent."

Aryna Sabalenka admits she still has mental issues

"That's exactly what I'm saying, I need to sit down and sincerely think about what's going on in my head in those difficult moments because I am a player with a lot of experience. I've been through a lot of things and overcome a lot of things, I just need to figure out that little detail that sometimes doesn't work for me, and I hope to overcome it. This morning I felt ready to fight, I was prepared, very motivated, as always. I wouldn't say I did anything different in the morning, I just think there is a specific moment during the match when I lose control of the match."

Sabalenka denies having had the title in her hands

"I don't like easy victories; I think it's all about suffering, overcoming, and achieving it for me. But also, how can you say such a thing? Marta Kostyuk is in great form. Mirra Andreeva is playing incredible tennis. I'm going to mispronounce the name of the Polish girl, I'm sorry: Maja. I'm sorry, but she's also playing very well. Maybe it seemed like I had the easiest part, but it isn't like that."

Sabalenka keeps her humor despite her defeat at Roland Garros

"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, I suppose. At some point, I will find a way to overcome this small situation and come back stronger. By the way, I just thought about how I can get over it. Do you know those rooms where you enter and can break everything? I'll probably spend all day there tomorrow breaking things; maybe it will help (laughs)."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka, destrozada tras caer en Roland Garros: “Ahora mismo solo quiero dejar el tenis”