World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has insisted she will not walk away from tennis following her shock second-round exit at the French Open, declaring she is determined to bounce back stronger.
Sabalenka's French Open Disappointment
The Belarusian star, who entered Roland Garros as the top seed and a heavy favourite, was stunned by unseeded Czech player Linda Noskova in a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) defeat on Wednesday. The loss marked Sabalenka's earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2022 Australian Open and raised questions about her mental resilience on the biggest stage.
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka acknowledged the disappointment but dismissed any suggestion that she might consider retirement. “No, no, I'm not quitting. I love this sport. I love competing. I just need to go back to work and figure out what went wrong,” she said, according to the Guardian.
Determination to Improve
Sabalenka, 28, has been a dominant force on the WTA Tour, holding the No.1 ranking for 35 consecutive weeks. However, her Grand Slam record has been inconsistent: she won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2025, but has struggled at Roland Garros, never advancing beyond the quarterfinals. This year's second-round loss is her worst result at the event since 2021.
“I have to take this as a lesson. Every loss teaches you something. I will analyse everything with my team and come back stronger,” she said. “I'm not going to let one bad tournament define my career.”
Reaction from Tennis World
Sabalenka's defeat was one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. Noskova, ranked 38th, played aggressively and capitalised on Sabalenka's 38 unforced errors. The Czech teenager praised Sabalenka's quality, saying, “She's an amazing player and champion. I just tried to stay focused on my game.”
Former world No.1 and ESPN analyst Chris Evert commented on Sabalenka's exit, saying, “It's a setback, but she has the game and the mindset to recover. The top players always find a way back.”
Looking Ahead
Sabalenka is now expected to take a short break before preparing for the grass-court season, including Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals in 2024. “I'll rest for a few days, then get back on the practice court. I still have many goals in this sport,” she said.
With the French Open continuing, Sabalenka's early exit opens up the women's draw, with Iga Swiatek now the clear favourite to claim her fourth title at Roland Garros. Sabalenka, meanwhile, will be watching and learning.
