Aryna Sabalenka saw her golden opportunity to claim a maiden French Open title go by on Wednesday as the world number one fell into a "deep, dark hole" against Diana Shnaider to crash out of the tournament in the quarter-finals.

After battling back from a set down and being led by a double break of serve in the second by the world number one, Shnaider prevailed to set up a last-four meeting with Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska.

"I screw up, and then she stepped in and she played great. I feel like mentally I couldn't really recover after the second set," Sabalenka said after her 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss.

"I don't know when was the last time that happened to me that I lost 10 games in a row. I don't know. I guess mentally I got into very deep, deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn't get back mentally on track."

Sabalenka's collapse on Court Philippe Chatrier was reminiscent of last year's final when Coco Gauff battled back to beat the four-time major winner in three sets.

But this year's defeat to 25th seed Shnaider will sting just as much as Sabalenka had entered the last eight as the overwhelming favourite to win Roland Garros, following the early exits of principal challengers Gauff, Iga Swiatek and world number two Elena Rybakina.

"I don't like easy wins, you know. I guess for me it's about suffer, overcome, and get it done," Sabalenka said tongue-in-cheek.

Shnaider's best previous performance in a major was a fourth-round run at the US Open in 2024.

But now the 22-year-old finds herself the favourite to reach the final at Roland Garros.

"Definitely super happy I managed to finish on a good note rather than start on a good note," Shnaider said of her battling comeback.

"(It's) definitely a special tournament for me here.

"It's going be a lefty battle so I'm looking forward (to the semi-final)."

- 'What's going on' -

Earlier, world number 114 Chwalinska continued her stunning Roland Garros run by becoming just the second women's qualifier to reach the last four at Roland Garros in the Open era.

The 24-year-old Pole again defied the odds to down Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

"I honestly don't know what's going on. I know I repeat myself but every single match here is kind of crazy for me so I'm very grateful," Chwalinska said on court.

It was her eighth win at the tournament after she battled through three qualifying rounds to reach the main draw of a major for just the third time in her career.

Prior to her run in Paris, Chwalinska had only ever won two tour-level matches on clay in her career, now she stands one victory away from competing for the biggest title the surface has to offer.

"I feel like I just, for some reason, I don't process it, you know," Chwalinska said.

"I'm just focusing on every single match. I honestly don't feel like it's, like, a huge, huge moment for me. 

"But definitely after the tournament finishes, I will kind of have time to, I guess, be grateful for what happened and process it as well."

If the women's tournament is now set to produce a first-time Grand Slam winner, that has been the case for the men's since last week.

World number six Felix Auger-Aliassime is the highest-ranked player left in the top half of the draw following Jannik Sinner's shock second-round departure, as well as Ben Shelton's departure.

Not only is the Canadian the only sole non-Italian left at the top of the draw, he also finds himself in uncharted territory having never before progressed beyond the last 16 at the French Open.

Auger-Aliassime will later take on 10th seed Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.

The winner of that match will then meet one of Matteo Berrettini or Matteo Arnaldi, who headline the night session, in Friday's semi-finals.

Of that quartet, only 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini has previously reached a major final.

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"No Scotland, no party" is a popular refrain of the Tartan Army and for the first time in 28 years the World Cup will be treated to the Scottish fans' vibrant blend of noise, colour and passion.

Scotland supporters are more famous for making an impression on major tournaments than their team on the pitch.

The nation has never made it out of the group stage at World Cups and European Championships in 12 previous attempts.

Yet around 200,000 Scots earned rave reviews for the atmosphere they brought to Euro 2024 in Germany despite failing to see their side win a match.

Tens of thousands are expected to defy exorbitant prices to make the trek to Boston and Miami in the coming weeks.

"If you would have told me 28 years ago that we wouldn't see another World Cup until now I would've burst into tears to be honest," Niall Fitzgerald, 50, told AFP outside Hampden Park, which hosted Scotland's friendly win against Curacao last weekend.

"But now that I'm going I can barely believe it.

"Every day I think about nothing else. I'm beyond excited," added the Scotsman, dressed in a kilt and Stetson cowboy hat.

Scotland's presence on the world stage for the first time since the 1998 tournament in France was sealed with a memorable 4-2 win over Denmark.

Underlining the significance of Scotland's World Cup return, Scott McTominay's overhead kick in that dramatic victory has been commemorated in a giant mural outside Hampden, and on a limited edition £20 ($26) bank note.

Haunted by the ghosts of previous World Cup flops, Scotland's tournament opener against Caribbean minnows Haiti offers hope that the travelling hordes will be able to celebrate a winning start to the campaign.

But much tougher tests lie in wait, against 2022 semi-finalists Morocco and five-time winners Brazil.

"I think they'll probably bring a lot of drinking, partying. I think they'll be some of the best fans there," supporter Ivor Much said of Scotland's flair for creating a carnival atmosphere.

"I think it's a perfect match to have Brazil and Scotland together."

- 'Stolen from the poor' -

The joy of qualification, though, has been tempered by the exorbitant prices of tickets, travel and accommodation.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke urged supporters not to rack up huge debts in their desire to follow Scotland in North America.

Category-one tickets for their clash with Brazil were priced at $700, with fees well into the thousands quoted on the secondary market.

"The Polish fans held up a banner at one of the stadiums last year saying 'Stolen from the poor, given to the rich' and I think that sums it up," said fan Steven Webster, who has not missed a Scotland home game since the coronavirus lockdown.

The 49-year-old is instead among many planning on making the trip to the south of Spain to watch games in bars and take in a party atmosphere, even if it is several thousand miles from the heart of the action.

"The cost of going to America for the games, we could have bought a brand new car for the same sort of money," said Webster. 

"Instead we're going to Spain. I am getting a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) right now."

Yet for those fortunate to follow their heroes across the Atlantic in the coming weeks, the party is just getting started.

"Everybody has got their hand out in this World Cup and it's been a bit of a shame. But that said nothing would deter us from being there, whatever the cost," said Fitzgerald.

"Everybody loves the Tartan Army. Even if they've never met the Tartan Army, they never want them to leave, and they want them to come back again and again.

"That's what we are taking to the World Cup -- the party!"

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Football superstar David Beckham is to be honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, organizers announced Tuesday, as the United States readies to host the World Cup.

Movie legend Tom Cruise and the player's pop star-turned-fashion designer wife Victoria Beckham will be at the ceremony on June 12 to unveil the plaque immortalizing the British midfielder on Hollywood's most famous thoroughfare.

The ceremony for the 51-year-old former England captain will take place hours before the first game on US soil in this year's World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

"David Beckham's recognition with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the Sports Entertainment category comes at a fitting moment as the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup," said Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. 

"Beckham's role in elevating soccer's profile in America and his lasting influence on sports, entertainment, and global culture make this honor especially meaningful," she said.

During his club playing career, Beckham spent time at Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, the American side LA Galaxy, and Paris Saint-Germain, where he hung up his boots in 2013. 

More recently, he became a co-owner of the American team Inter Miami CF, which signed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, and won the Major League Soccer Cup Championship last year. 

Beckham, who was knighted by Britain's King Charles III last year, also ventured into the entertainment industry, co-founding the content production company Studio 99 in 2019. 

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