Chris Evert claims Aryna Sabalenka’s Roland Garros exit was ‘an inside job’ after Diana Shnaider’s defeat
Aryna Sabalenka is the latest high-profile exit at this year’s French Open.
After early departures for Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka was beaten by 25th seed Diana Shnaider, losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
The Belarusian had control of the match early on, taking the first set and building a 4-1 lead in the second. But from there, she lost 12 of the final 13 games as Shnaider mounted a stunning comeback.
Sabalenka came into Roland Garros as one of the favourites to win it all, especially after finishing runner-up to Gauff last year.
Reflecting on the match on Eurosport’s coverage of Roland Garros with Barbara Schett and Mats Wilander, seven-time French Open champion Chris Evert suggested that a familiar problem had resurfaced for the world number one.
Chris Evert shares her thoughts on Aryna Sabalenka’s early exit
Evert told TNT Sports: “I mean, when you think about it, she had a meltdown sort of last year and Coco Gauff beat her.
“And she said in the press conference, I will never let that happen to me again. I have learned a hard lesson in my tennis, and I will be calmer and more unemotional.
“And sure enough, she played in the wind, the wind, it wasn’t only her opponent, it was the wind that got her ruffled, and she was talking to her box.
“It really upset her. And again, she was very emotional, and I think that lost her the match as well.”
Tim Henman chimed in: “Also, as well, when she reflects on this, as Chrissy mentioned in the final last year, it was the wind, it was 70 unforced errors, and she didn’t really make those adjustments to play with a little bit more margin for error, a little bit safer away from the lines.
“And then she’s got into a similar situation against, with all due respect to a lesser player, and she didn’t make those adjustments.
“We all know that sometimes you learn more from your losses than your wins. But from 12 months ago, she hasn’t really made those adjustments, and it cost her yesterday.”
Chris Evert points to Aryna Sabalenka’s lack of adjustments against Diana Shnaider
Evert continued: “That is her game. It’s an all-out attack on every single shot that she hits. There’s no holding back.
“She doesn’t have a defence. She controls the point, you know, but as Tim said, she just didn’t make the adjustments as far as, okay, this isn’t a normal day. This is a very windy day. I have to adapt.
“And she was going for the lines, and they were going two feet out. Why not have, you know, go for two feet inside the line and play it a little bit safer. And that’s what you have to do in the wind.”
Up until this year’s French Open, Shnaider had never progressed past the fourth round at a Grand Slam event.
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