Aryna Sabalenka moved within two wins of her first French Open title as she prepared for a women’s quarter-final against Russian 25th seed Diana Shnaider in Paris. The world number one is one of only two top-10 seeds left in the women’s draw and has a major chance to improve on her runner-up finish at Roland Garros last year. Sabalenka said she has tried not to overthink the pressure and has focused on playing her best tennis, praising Shnaider as a tricky opponent who varies the pace, serves well and moves effectively.
In the other women’s quarter-final, Anna Kalinskaya will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, whose run has been one of the surprise stories of the tournament. Chwalinska, ranked 114th, has already beaten Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 23rd seed Elise Mertens and former world number three Maria Sakkari to reach the last eight. She said being the underdog works in her favour because every opponent is ranked above her and the spotlight is not on her.
The men’s draw has opened up dramatically, creating a strong chance of a first-time Grand Slam champion in Paris. Felix Auger-Aliassime, now the highest-ranked player remaining in the top half, is trying to reach uncharted territory at Roland Garros after never previously going beyond the last 16. The Canadian said the exits of top names such as Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic created noise earlier in the tournament, but that the focus now must be on capitalising on the opportunity still available.
Auger-Aliassime next faces 10th seed Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. The winner will meet either 105th-ranked Matteo Berrettini or Matteo Arnaldi for a place in the final. The top half of the men’s draw now features only Italian players and Auger-Aliassime, with the Canadian the lone non-Italian left in that section. Arnaldi described the atmosphere as special and called it a derby, highlighting how unusual and competitive the path to the title has become.
The Italian contingent has added further intrigue to the men’s event, where the absence of several leading contenders has transformed the draw. For Auger-Aliassime, the path is clearer than it might have been at the start of the tournament, but the challenge remains substantial. He must first overcome Cobolli before potentially meeting another strong Italian opponent, all while chasing the first major title of his career.
With Sabalenka still chasing her breakthrough in Paris and the men’s side wide open, Wednesday’s action at Roland Garros could be pivotal in shaping the final stages of the 2026 French Open.
