Serena Williams' Former Coach Blames Aryna Sabalenka for French Open Collapse: 'It Was All Her Fault'

Aryna Sabalenka's stunning French Open quarterfinal exit continues to generate debate across the tennis world, with former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs offering a blunt assessment of what went wrong for the World No. 1 in Paris.

Sabalenka appeared to be cruising into the semifinals after building a commanding lead against Diana Shnaider. Instead, the Belarusian suffered one of the most dramatic collapses of the tournament, allowing the Russian to recover from a set and a break down before storming to victory.

Speaking on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the Australian coach suggested Sabalenka's own emotions played a major role in the defeat.

Serena Williams' coach breaks down Aryna Sabalenka Paris collapse

Stubbs questioned why Sabalenka showed visible frustration despite being in complete control of the match.

"Why at a set and 4-1 would you show any negativity at all? I don't understand it. It was all her fault," Stubbs said.

The former doubles World No. 1 went a step further, claiming Sabalenka's tendency to unravel under pressure has become a recognised trait among players and coaches on the WTA Tour.

"You know a player like Sabalenka, if she starts to go off a little bit, she can go way off," Stubbs added.

"There are certain players that once they start going off the rails, you know they can come back with some great stuff, but you know that there is a possibility she is going to give you two or three games. That, as a coach, I can tell you, is the locker room reputation of Sabalenka."

How the Match Slipped Away from Aryna Sabalenka

The criticism comes after one of the most unexpected turnarounds of the French Open.

Sabalenka entered the quarterfinal as one of the title favourites and initially looked every bit the World No. 1. She raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before eventually taking it 6-3.

The Belarusian then moved within touching distance of victory at 4-1 in the second set and appeared firmly in control. However, momentum shifted dramatically as Shnaider extended rallies and forced Sabalenka into increasingly uncomfortable positions.

Visible signs of frustration began to emerge, with Sabalenka repeatedly directing her emotions towards her player box and reacting angrily to mistakes.

The Russian capitalised.

From trailing 3-5 in the second set, Shnaider won 10 consecutive games to complete a remarkable 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory and book her place in the semifinals.

A Familiar Struggle

Sabalenka's emotional reaction during matches has often been discussed throughout her career.

Windy conditions have previously caused difficulties for the Belarusian, notably during her French Open final defeat to Coco Gauff in 2025, where unforced errors proved costly. Similar serving struggles were also evident during the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun.

Following the loss to Shnaider, Sabalenka admitted she was deeply disappointed and even spoke emotionally about her future in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.

Focus Shifts to Grass-Court Season

Despite the French Open setback, Sabalenka remains one of the dominant players on the WTA Tour in 2026.

The World No. 1 has compiled an impressive 31-4 record this season, reaching four finals and capturing titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami.

She will now look to put the disappointment behind her during the grass-court season, beginning with the Berlin Open.

The tournament features a stacked field including Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Amanda Anisimova and newly-crowned French Open champion Mirra Andreeva.

While Sabalenka is still searching for her first grass-court title, Wimbledon remains a major target. Having repeatedly fallen short of the final at the All England Club, the Belarusian will hope a strong grass swing can provide the perfect response to her Paris heartbreak.