Chris Evert shares theory behind Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open meltdown

Former world number one Chris Evert has shared a theory behind Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open ‘meltdown’ after she was upset by Diana Shnaider.

The world number one was 6-3 and 4-1 up and yet somehow lost the match to the Russian by 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in blustery conditions on Wednesday in the French Open to reach the semi-finals.

The world number one has joined the top players like defending champion Coco Gauff and four-times winner Iga Swiatek, who were also shocked in the same fashion.

Sabalenka was a set and a double break ahead in the match, but lost the last 10 games, having been two points away from the win.

The 18-time major winner Evert was stunned by the dramatic turnaround in the match.

She said on TNT Sports’ commentary, “I have never seen her be up a set and 4-1, playing pretty well and all of a sudden her game goes to demise.

“This was her dream tournament; she has dreamt about this all year. All of a sudden she lost her feel. It is quite unbelievable.”

Evert said this was one of the strangest matches she had ever witnessed and added that Aryna Sabalenka needs to learn how to adjust when things go against you.

“I don’t think she has learnt how to play in the wind. The wind requires footwork, adjustment steps around the ball, wind wreaks havoc on the ball. You have to wait to the last second to set your feet and hit the ball,” Evert said.

“What about this? Five of the top seeds had lost. Maybe that was in the back of her mind, ‘I have to win this now’. There could be a million reasons why it wasn’t her week.”