Diana Shnaider advanced to the semifinals of the French Open on Thursday after overcoming a challenging match against world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. The 22-year-old Russian secured a notable victory in difficult windy conditions at Court Philippe Chatrier, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s struggles in the second set to close out the win.

Sabalenka, a leading contender at Roland Garros, appeared unsettled as the gusty weather intensified. She openly questioned the decision by tournament officials to keep the roof open despite the adverse conditions, which she said contributed to the quality of play deteriorating. “Even though I was winning, it was very dirty tennis,” Sabalenka remarked, adding that the mental battle was a significant factor in her loss. She described feeling trapped in “a very deep, deep, dark hole” during key moments and unable to regain control.

Shnaider, in contrast, demonstrated resilience and precision, using the challenging environment to her advantage. The Russian controlled long rallies, absorbing Sabalenka’s pace while maintaining consistent depth. She revealed that she was aware of Sabalenka’s previous difficulties against Coco Gauff under similar windy circumstances at last year’s tournament and was determined to seize any opportunity presented.

About 90 minutes after Sabalenka’s exit, tournament officials closed the roof for the men’s semifinal contest between Félix Auger-Aliassime and Flavio Cobolli, highlighting the evolving conditions on the court.

Shnaider’s win marks a breakthrough at a major event, as she has struggled to assert herself in Grand Slam tournaments despite being ranked within the top 20 for nearly two years. Her semifinal opponent will be qualifier Maja Chwalinska, a surprising presence in the last four. The Polish player, ranked No. 114, has never broken into the top 100 and entered the tournament with only one prior Grand Slam main draw victory. Yet she has impressed at Roland Garros, losing only one set across eight matches.

In the other half of the draw, Mirra Andreeva, the 19-year-old eighth seed and Shnaider’s doubles partner, is set to meet 15th seed Marta Kostyuk. The contest represents another chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between Russian and Ukrainian players.

Speaking about her mindset following the defeat, Sabalenka expressed uncertainty about her immediate plans but speculated humorously that she might spend time “destroying stuff” in a smash room to vent frustration. Her reaction underscored the disappointment she felt after a difficult match and the unexpected exit from the tournament.