Aryna Sabalenka is on the verge of achieving a significant milestone in her career as she aims to secure her first French Open title. Since her debut in 2017, Sabalenka has struggled to make a lasting impact on the clay courts of Roland Garros. It wasn’t until 2023 that she finally broke through, reaching the semifinals before falling to Karolína Muchová in a hard-fought three-set match. The closest she came to winning the title was in last year’s final, where she lost to Coco Gauff after taking an early lead.
The French Open has always been a challenging tournament for Sabalenka, who has faced consistent difficulties adapting to the clay surface. However, her recent performances have shown a marked improvement, and she now appears to be a legitimate contender for the title. The question remains: can she capitalize on this opportunity and claim the coveted trophy?
Sabalenka vs The Field
As the World No. 1, Sabalenka will face Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals for a spot in the semifinals. Shnaider has been dominant throughout the tournament, dropping only one set against Madison Keys in her previous match. Since her unexpected loss to Sorana Cirstea in Rome, Sabalenka has remained unbeaten, not dropping a single set. This will be their first-ever meeting, and Sabalenka’s experience and consistency in Grand Slam quarterfinals give her a strong advantage. She has won 14 straight Grand Slam quarterfinals, while Shnaider is making her debut at this stage of a major tournament.
If Sabalenka advances, she could face Anna Kalinskaya or Maja Chwalinska in the semifinals. Kalinskaya is looking to build on her best result at the French Open, with a career win percentage of 36.4% (4 wins and 7 losses). Meanwhile, Chwalinska is enjoying a historic run, becoming the first qualifier to reach the quarterfinals since 2020. She is also the fourth Polish woman in the Open Era to make a Grand Slam quarterfinal, joining Iga Świątek, Agnieszka Radwańska, and Magda Linette.
On the other side of the draw, Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk have already secured their places in the semifinals. Their presence adds to the excitement of the tournament and highlights the depth of talent competing in Paris.
The Huge Favorite
Excluding Sabalenka, no other player remaining in the field has reached the final of the Roland Garros. Among the quarterfinalists, only Sabalenka and Andreeva have previously made it to the semifinals. Elina Svitolina is competing in her 15th Grand Slam quarterfinal (sixth in Paris), while Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya, and qualifier Maja Chwalinska are all making their debut at this stage of a major tournament.
Sabalenka stands out with four Grand Slam titles to her name, while the other seven players in the quarterfinals have yet to win a major title. The absence of defending champion Coco Gauff, who defeated Sabalenka in last year’s final, and four-time winner Iga Świątek, creates an opening for a new champion to emerge. This situation presents a golden opportunity for the Belarusian to claim her first Roland Garros title.
With the right combination of form, focus, and determination, Sabalenka could finally end her long wait for a French Open victory. Her recent performances suggest she is more than capable of rising to the occasion. As the tournament progresses, fans around the world will be watching closely to see if she can make history on the clay courts of Paris.
