Aryna Sabalenka’s journey at the French Open came to an unexpected end as she was defeated by 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals. The world number two struggled throughout the match, showing visible signs of distress and discomfort, which eventually led to the cancellation of her post-match press conference due to medical reasons.
During the match, Sabalenka appeared unwell, grimacing and pointing to her stomach as she interacted with medical staff. At one point, she even made a swiping gesture across her neck, indicating a potential retirement. Despite these challenges, Sabalenka managed to win the first set in a tiebreak, though she continued to receive medical attention and was visibly emotional, often crouching down between points.
Andreeva, showing remarkable composure for her age, capitalized on Sabalenka’s compromised condition, securing a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory. This win propelled Andreeva into the record books as the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final this century. Her remarkable performance was a testament to her resilience and skill, overcoming the Australian Open champion who was not at her best.
A statement from the tournament clarified Sabalenka’s absence from the press conference, citing medical reasons and noting that she was with the tournament’s medical team. The tennis world was left awaiting more details, as fans and media had hoped to hear Sabalenka’s account of the match.
Mirra Andreeva’s journey to the semi-finals has been nothing short of spectacular. Along the way, she defeated seasoned players including Victoria Azarenka and Varvara Gracheva, handling the pressure and jeers from the home crowd with remarkable poise. Her next challenge will be against 12th seed Italian Jasmine Paolini, while Iga Swiatek continues her dominant run, aiming for another French Open title as she prepares to face Coco Gauff in the other semi-final.
Despite the unexpected turn of events for Sabalenka, her performance leading up to the quarter-finals was strong, with straight-set victories over Erika Andreeva, Moyuka Uchijima, Paula Badosa, and Emma Navarro. However, the unexpected defeat to Andreeva marks a significant moment in the tournament, highlighting the unpredictable nature of tennis and the emergence of new talent.
