PARIS, June 3. /TASS/. Russia’s Diana Shnaider advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 French Open on Wednesday upsetting World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus.

In a match that lasted for 2 hours and 12 minutes, the 25th-seeded Shnaider, who is playing under a neutral status at the tournament, came from a set and a double break down to stun top seed Sabalenka 3-6; 7-5; 6-0.

"Tough conditions with the wind, first time playing Aryna, super nervous," the tournament’s official website quoted Shanider as saying after the match. "Quarterfinals for the first time, definitely a lot of nerves. I feel like first there was trying to adjust to her game and then to the conditions, to the wind. Trying to figure out how to play."

"I was just trying to focus point by point, not thinking about the score. I was like, it's OK. It's tough conditions, she's the World No. 1. I will just try to do my best to the end and we'll see how it goes. Try to fight for every point and try to run for every ball and make it extra into the court," she continued.

"In the third set I finally found my rhythm and how to play. When to be a little bit more defensive, when to attack. The third set was the one I should be aiming for from the beginning. But definiutely super happy I managed to finish on a good note, and not [just] to start on a good note!" the Russian player added.

Shnaider, 22, is currently ranked 23rd in the WTA Rankings. She holds five WTA titles. Her best result in Grand Slams was reaching Round 4 of the 2024 US Open. At the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, she captured a silver medal in women’s doubles with partner Mirra Andreeva.

Belarusian Sabalenka, 28, has stood atop the WTA (the Women's Tennis Association) Rankings since October 2024. She's a 24-time tour champion, four of those being Grand Slams (2023, 2024 Australian Open, 2024, 2025 US Open) in women’s singles. Playing in women’s doubles at majors, Sabalenka has a US Open (2019) title and an Australian Open crown (2021).

In the semifinals round on Thursday, Shnaider will face off against World No. 114 Maja Chwalinska from Poland, who earlier in the day knocked out Russia’s 22nd-seeded Anna Kalinskaya. Chwalinska, a qualifier, is on a Cinderella run at the tourney, having already taken down the likes of Iga Swiatek and Magda Linette on her way to the semifinals.

In the other semifinals match on Thursday, another Russian player, 8th-seeded Mirra Andreeva, is set to play against 15th-seeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. Andreeva is looking to build on her early career success at Roland Garros. Two years ago, as a 17-year-old, she reached the semifinals of the 2024 French Open, previously her best finish ever at a Grand Slam.

This is the first time in 11 years that two Russian players have reached the semifinals stage at a Grand Slam in the ladies draw. The previous time was at the Australian Open in 2015, when Maria Sharapova and Yekaterina Makarova both making it to the semis, with Sharapova eventually reaching the final, where she lost to Serena Williams from the United States.

One of tennis’ four Grand Slam events, the 2026 French Open takes place in Paris, nicknamed the "City of Light," between May 24 and June 7. The tournament is played on outdoor clay courts at the Stade Roland Garros. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff from the United States are the tournament’s reigning champions on the men's and women's sides respectively.

Russian and Belarusian players’ neutral status at tennis tournaments

On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

Following the IOC's recommendations in late February 2022, the majority of global sports federations moved to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) ruled on March 1, 2022, to suspend the membership of the Russian and Belarusian national tennis federations while also canceling all previously scheduled tennis tournaments in the two countries.

On March 14, 2022, the ITF also confirmed its prohibition on the Russian and Belarusian national tennis teams from participating in the 2022 Davis Cup and the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup.