Aryna Sabalenka says she fell into a 'deep, dark hole' mentally after a stunning collapse against Russian qualifier Diana Shnaider at the French Open. The world number one lost the last ten games in a row, surrendering a commanding lead in the second set before falling 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.
Sabalenka admitted she wanted to 'quit tennis right now' after the defeat, calling her performance 'dirty tennis' and struggling to regain her focus after letting the match slip away.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, a runner-up at Roland Garros last year, said she is 'tired of losing matches just because I was over-emotional' and vowed to find a solution for her recurring mental lapses on clay and grass.
She also questioned the decision to keep the roof open on Court Philippe Chatrier, as swirling winds made conditions difficult for both players. Despite the setback, Sabalenka says she will come back stronger, even joking about spending a day breaking things to release the frustration.