World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka admitted she was in a difficult emotional state following her defeat at the French Open, after comments she made about wanting to «quit tennis» sparked concern among fans and commentators.
The Belarusian star suffered a disappointing loss at Roland Garros despite entering the tournament as one of the favorites for the title. Speaking afterward, Sabalenka described feeling exhausted and frustrated, leading to remarks that some interpreted as questioning her future in the sport.
The three-time Grand Slam champion later clarified that her comments were made in the heat of the moment and reflected the disappointment of defeat rather than a genuine intention to retire. She acknowledged that the loss had taken a significant emotional toll and said she would take time to recover before returning to competition.
Tennis analysts noted that the pressures of maintaining a top ranking and competing deep into major tournaments can be mentally demanding, particularly following high-profile defeats on the Grand Slam stage.
Despite the setback, Sabalenka remains one of the leading players on the WTA Tour and is expected to shift her focus to the grass-court season ahead of Wimbledon, where she will again be among the favorites.
The Belarusian has enjoyed another strong season in 2026, reinforcing her status as one of the dominant figures in women’s tennis despite the disappointment in Paris.
