Like Jannik Sinner in the men’s draw, Sabalenka was the favourite to win a maiden French Open title this year.<\/p>\n
With four-time winner Iga Swiatek and reigning champion Coco Gauff knocked out relatively early, Sabalenka had her best chance to win a first Grand Slam away from the hard courts of New York and Melbourne.<\/p>\n
But Sabalenka – like Sinner in his second-round defeat by Juan Manuel Cerundolo -surrendered a huge lead in yet another massive upset at this year’s Roland Garros.<\/p>\n
While Sinner struggled with cramping and dizziness in sweltering heat, Sabalenka only had herself to blame as she failed to adapt to the blustery conditions for a second year in a row.<\/p>\n
Losses for Sinner, Sabalenka, Gauff and Novak Djokovic among others mean this is the first Grand Slam since the 1977 French Open that a former major champion has not featured in either the men’s or women’s semi-finals.<\/p>\n
From complete control in the opening set and the start of the second, the 28-year-old Sabalenka faltered as Shnaider began to find her rhythm.<\/p>\n
The left-hander caused all sorts of problems for the top seed with blistering forehand winners as Sabalenka struggled to put the ball in the court.<\/p>\n
Losing the final set without winning a game was a sorry end, and Sabalenka made a hasty retreat off court after hugging Shnaider at the net.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka will now be left to rue another missed opportunity – she has four major titles to her name but that is a puzzling return given she has reached the semi-finals in 12 of her past 13 Slam appearances.<\/p>\n