“Aryna Sabalenka laments Jannik Sinner’s elimination at Roland Garros.”

The unexpected elimination of Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros has shaken the tennis world and ignited social media. The young Italian, a rising world number one, seemed to be dominating the match with ease but succumbed to a surprising and dramatic defeat against Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo, leaving the tournament at a crucial moment. This unexpected turn of events immediately mobilized opinions among fellow players on the circuit, including Aryna Sabalenka, who did not hide her solidarity and sadness over her compatriot’s outcome.

After her victory on Tuesday against French player Elsa Jacquemot, Sabalenka openly shared her empathy for Sinner: “I was really sad for him. I’m always rooting for Jannik, and seeing him suffer like that hurt me a lot. I believed he would win until the last ball, and I really hoped he would. I didn’t even think about my own game or the timing of my match; if mine had started later, everything would have gone better for him. I was just worried that he wouldn’t be able to close the match. What happened to him is sad, but I’m sure he will come back even stronger. Now, I imagine it’s time to recover, rest, and prepare for the grass season. It’s a shame to see him exit the tournament so early.”

Regarding her own journey in the tournament, the Belarusian tennis player described the difficulty of her match against Jacquemot: “I faced a very tough opponent. It was one of those matches that gets complicated, so I’m glad I managed to close it out in three sets. Despite the crowd’s support for my opponent, I felt they were quite respectful. It was a fantastic experience to play on Court Philippe-Chatrier, even against a French player. I had a lot of fun and I’m very happy to have progressed to the next stage.”

Regarding the next challenge against Russian player Daria Kasatkina, Sabalenka remains alert and determined: “I don’t even remember our head-to-head record, but I know she’s always a very tough opponent. I usually don’t focus on previous matches against her because I know she’s a fighter who returns every ball and makes you earn every point, especially on clay. It’s going to be another very tough match, but I’m ready to fight and face any conditions. I’m really excited to play against her.”

Sabalenka thus reveals a combative and resilient stance, while also showing a human and supportive side in light of Sinner’s difficulties, reinforcing the intrigue and emotion that continue to characterize this Roland Garros. The upcoming matches promise to be of high caliber, with intense and unpredictable battles for tennis fans around the world.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.