Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka spoke of a descent into a deep dark hole after she lost 10 consecutive games on Wednesday afternoon to go from the brink of qualifying for the French Open semi-finals to elimination.
The world number one led Diana Shnaider 6-3, 5-3 with a chance to serve for the match on centre court at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris.
But she fluffed her chance as Shnaider reeled off four consecutive games to take the second set 7-5.
The 22-year-old Russian rolled through the decider 6-0 to reach the semi-finals at one of the four Grand Slam tournaments for the first time.
"I guess mentally I got into a very deep, deep, dark hole," said Sabalenka who lost in the 2025 French Open women's singles final to Coco Gauff.
"And I just couldn't get back mentally on track. I really feel great on clay. I feel great on grass," added the 28-year-old Belarusian.
"I think just maybe I'm focusing too much that I never won a Slam on each [of those surfaces] and maybe it's kind of making me overthink stuff, makes me overemotional at some moment."
New name on trophies
Sabalenka was the only Grand Slam tournament champion left in the men's or women's singles draws heading into the quarter-final match.
"Definitely super happy I managed to finish on a good note rather than start on a good note," Shnaider said of her comeback. "It's definitely a special tournament for me here."
On Thursday afternoon, Shnaider, the 25th seed, will face another first-time semi-finalist in the shape of 24-year-old Maja Chwalinska from Poland.
Chwalinska, the world number 114, came through three matches of the French Open qualifying tournament for a place in the main draw.
'Crazy run'
On Wednesday, the 24-year-old dispatched the 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6, 6-3.
"I honestly don't know what's going on," said in her post-match on-court interview:.
"I know I repeat myself but every single match here is kind of crazy for me so I'm very grateful," she added.
Chwalinska had won only two matches on clay courts before the surge through the most prestigious tournament on the surface.
"I don't process it, you know," she added. "I'm just focusing on every single match. But definitely after the tournament finishes, I will have time to be grateful for what happened and process it as well."
Thursday's other semi-final will pit Mirra Andreeva from Russia against the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
The women's singles final will take place on 6 June.
