Diana Shnaider’s Upset Over Aryna Sabalenka Creates Tennis History

First-Time Grand Slam Champion Will Be Crowned

Sabalenka, the No. 1 player for 85 consecutive weeks, was the last Major title holder in the men’s or women’s draw. With her loss, there will be a first-time Major champion on the men’s and women’s sides.

Sabalenka was trying to win her first French Open and become the eighth first-time women’s singles champion at Roland Garros in the last 10 years. Take away Iga Swiatek’s three-peat (2022, 2023, 2024), and a woman hasn’t won more than one French Open since Serena Williams won her third title in 2015.

First Former College Player To Win Slam Since 1979

Shnaider could become the first former college player to win a Major title since 1979. Shnaider is Russian but played one year of college tennis at North Carolina State, where she won ACC Freshman of the Year, and helped lead the Wolfpack to the NCAA final. Shortly after her freshman season, Shnaider turned pro.

The last former college player to win a Major title in women’s singles was Barbara Jordan, a three-time All-American at Stanford, who won the 1979 Australian Open.

Danielle Collins, who played for Virginia and Florida, reached the 2022 Australian Open final. In 2021, former UCLA Bruin Jennifer Brady reached the final of the Australian Open.

*Years other former college players won a Major:

1974: Billie Jean King (Cal State Los Angeles) 1972: Billie Jean King
1971: Billie Jean King
1967: Billie Jean King
1961: Darlene Hard (Pomona College)
1960: Darlene Hard
1958: Althea Gibson (Florida A&M)
1957: Althea Gibson
1956: Shirley Fry (Rollins College)
1955: Doris Hart (University of Miami)
1954: Doris Hart

Marta Kostyuk Could Be First Ukrainian To Win A Slam

With a win over compatriot Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk became the first Ukrainian woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros in the Open Era. If she defeats Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals, Kostyuk would become the first Ukrainian woman to reach the final at the French Open and could be the first Ukrainian player, male or female, to win a Major title.

In her post-match interview, Kostyuk dedicated the win to the people of Ukraine.

“We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, so many people dead,” Kostyuk said. “I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience. Slava Ukraini!”

First Qualifier To Win A Major Since Emma Raducanu

Maja Chwalinska could become the first qualifier to win a Major since Emma Raducanu won the 2021 U.S. Open.

Like Raducanu, Chwalinska benefited from the luck of the draw. She reached the semifinals without facing a player in the Top 10. She could reach the final without facing a player in the Top 20. Shnaider is seeded No. 25.

Similarly, during Raducanu’s U.S. Open run, her final opponent, Leylah Fernandez, cleared out the top contenders. Fernandez defeated No. 2 Sabalenka, No. 5 Svitolina, No. 16 Angelique Kerber and No. 3 Naomi Osaka. Meanwhile, Shnaider defeated Sabalenka and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Chwalinska is only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach the women’s French Open semifinals. The first was Nadia Podoroska in 2020.

First All 21st Century Baby Semifinals

With Sabalenka’s exit, this will be the first time that all the players in a Grand Slam semifinal were born in the 21st century.

Andreeva, the youngest, was born April 29, 2007. Shnaider was born April, 2, 2004. Kostyuk was born June, 28, 2002 and Chwalinska, the oldest, was born October, 11, 2001.

This also marks the first time since Wimbledon 2011, that all four semifinalists at a major are under 25. Petra Kvitova, 21, won the title. Runner-up Maria Sharapova was 24. Semifinalists Sabine Lisicki and Victoria Azarenka were both 21.

No matter who wins in the semifinals, somebody’s making history at the French Open.

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