World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she felt like quitting tennis after a quarter-final defeat to Diana Shnaider at the French Open on Wednesday [1, 2].
The collapse of the top-seeded player at Roland Garros marks one of the most unexpected exits of the tournament. Sabalenka's struggle to maintain her lead highlights a sudden psychological or physical dip that has left the world's top player questioning her future in the sport [2, 3].
Sabalenka lost the match with a final score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 [1]. The defeat was characterized by a dramatic shift in momentum during the final stages of the contest. Sabalenka lost 12 of the last 13 games played [3].
Following the match in Paris, Sabalenka reflected on the loss and the emotional toll of the collapse. She surrendered a set, and two service breaks during the match, which led to her frustration [4, 3].
"I feel like quitting tennis," Sabalenka said [3].
Other reports of her post-match comments echoed this sentiment. "I just want to quit tennis," Sabalenka said [5]. "I was thinking of quitting tennis after that collapse," Sabalenka said [4].
The loss is particularly stark given Sabalenka's status as the world No. 1 [2]. While the top seed entered the quarter-finals as a favorite, the 6-0 shutout in the final set underscored a complete breakdown in performance [1].
“"I feel like quitting tennis."”
A collapse of this magnitude from a world No. 1 suggests a significant vulnerability in Sabalenka's mental resilience or physical endurance during high-stakes matches. By publicly questioning her career, Sabalenka signals a level of burnout or frustration that could impact her ranking and performance in subsequent tournaments on the WTA tour.
