SABALENKA SHOCKER: World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open Dreams Crushed by Stomach…

For now, the French Open will remain out of reach for her, and once again, the tennis world is reminded that anything can happen on the court.

 

In a shocking turn of events at this year’s French Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the

world No. 3, saw her dreams of capturing her first Roland Garros title come to

a devastating halt. Sabalenka, who has been in exceptional form this season

and is widely regarded as one of the top contenders for the French Open, was

stunned by an unexpected upset in the third round, as stomach issues

significantly impacted her performance.

The Belarusian star, who has previously shown her dominance on hard courts

and clay, entered the tournament with high hopes and confidence after a

string of strong performances. She had proven herself to be one of the most

powerful and consistent players on the WTA tour, with her aggressive game

and imposing serve making her a force to be reckoned with. But on the court at

Roland Garros, Sabalenka was clearly not her usual self, as a combination of

stomach issues and uncharacteristic errors led to a shock defeat at the hands

of a lower-ranked opponent.

Sabalenka’s stomach problems, which she had reportedly been battling for

several days leading up to the match, seemed to reach a breaking point during

the contest. As the match progressed, it became increasingly clear that she was

struggling physically, often grimacing and holding her midsection between

points. Despite her best efforts to fight through the discomfort, Sabalenka’s

game unraveled in the later stages, with her normally powerful groundstrokes

failing to find their rhythm. The Belarusian’s serve, one of the most formidable

in women’s tennis, also faltered under the pressure.

In what many saw as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Sabalenka’s

opponent seized the opportunity and took full advantage of the situation. With

the top seed battling her physical limitations, her opponent displayed

remarkable resilience, staying focused and capitalizing on Sabalenka’s errors.

In the end, Sabalenka’s frustrations boiled over, as she was knocked out of the

tournament in straight sets, much to the surprise of both the crowd and tennis

pundits.

This defeat is a major setback for Sabalenka, who had high expectations

heading into the French Open. While she has seen success on hard courts, the

clay surface at Roland Garros is often considered a different challenge, and she

has struggled to find her best form on it in the past. However, after reaching

the semifinals last year and winning multiple titles in 2024, Sabalenka was

seen as one of the leading contenders to capture the elusive French Open

trophy, which has so far eluded her.

The combination of stomach issues and the intense physical demands of the

French Open undoubtedly played a significant role in her unexpected exit.

Sabalenka’s team had been working to manage her health leading up to the

match, but it was clear that she was not at 100% during the contest. The toll of

playing at the highest level while battling an illness was evident, and despite

her determination to push through, it became too much to overcome.

For the tennis world, this loss is a reminder of how unpredictable and

unforgiving the sport can be, especially at the Grand Slam level. Even the most

dominant players are vulnerable to the physical challenges that can arise

during a long tournament. Sabalenka’s upset serves as a cautionary tale about

the importance of managing both physical and mental health in the grueling

world of professional tennis.

In the aftermath of her defeat, Sabalenka was visibly disappointed but handled

the situation with grace, acknowledging the challenges she had faced during

the match. “I fought as much as I could, but my body just couldn’t keep up,”

Sabalenka said in her post-match interview. “It’s frustrating, but I’ll take it as a

lesson and work even harder for the next opportunity.”

While this early exit marks a major disappointment for Sabalenka, she

remains a fierce competitor with a bright future ahead. With her talent and

determination, it is almost certain that she will bounce back from this setback

and continue to challenge for major titles in the seasons to come. But for now,

the French Open will have to wait for her, and the tennis world has learned yet

again that anything can happen on the court.