Aryna Sabalenka was left heartbroken after her quarterfinal loss at the 2026 French Open. She made an emotional admission that she wanted to quit tennis.
What happened?
Aryna Sabalenka's performance coach, Jason Stacy, shared insight into her mindset after the loss. He explained that she should have taken more time to settle down before speaking to the press.
Sabalenka said she felt like abandoning tennis altogether after her 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 upset loss to Diana Shnaider. She hoped to mentally bounce back from the devastation.
Why it matters for Aryna Sabalenka
Jason Stacy emphasized that Sabalenka is never one to hide behind rehearsed platitudes. She will voice her raw emotions, and her remark was a natural response to the humiliation and frustration she experienced.
Stacy added that Sabalenka's team hadn't spoken to her before she addressed the media. He said she may have benefited from taking more time to compose herself beforehand.
What comes next?
Aryna Sabalenka has turned her attention to the grass-court season. She has booked her spot in the semifinals of the Berlin Tennis Open after claiming a hard-fought 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 comeback win over Nikola Bartůňková.
Sabalenka will battle it out against Jessica Pegula for a spot in the final of the WTA 500 event. The winner will meet either Alexandra Eala or Linda Nosková in the title clash.
Aryna Sabalenka appears to have moved on from the disappointment of her French Open loss. She is focused on her preparations for Wimbledon, where she will look to bounce back from her quarterfinal loss.
Jason Stacy's comments have shed light on Sabalenka's emotional state after the loss. He has defended her remark, saying it was a natural response to the situation.
The world No. 1 has shown her resilience in the past. She will look to draw on that experience as she prepares for Wimbledon.
Aryna Sabalenka's fans will be hoping she can put her French Open loss behind her. They will be eager to see her perform on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
The Berlin Tennis Open has provided Sabalenka with a chance to regain her momentum. She will look to take that momentum into Wimbledon, where she will face stiff competition from the likes of Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff.