Shnaider took the last 10 games of the match, and 12 of the last 13. She saw Sabalenka blink in that second set and she pounced. From the moment the No.1 tried to serve for the match at 5-3, Shnaider went for it.
“I thought I have to change something up now,” she said, making it sound so simple. “I feel like I just had the relief where I was, I got to go for my shots, I have to be more aggressive, I got to step in.”
And she did. But for one who had never been so deep into a Grand Slam draw before, she never flinched as the games sped by. She was playing like a seasoned champion.
“I was, like, yes, you are in the right direction,” she said. “You’ve got to stay, just focus on yourself, don’t focus too much on her, what she’s talking to her team or whatever what she’s doing. I was just trying to only think about myself, what I have to do, and just go point by point.”
Now she has to try and do that against Chwalinska on Thursday. “She’s very tricky with the dropshots and slices,” Shnaider said. “Obviously she’s a lefty. So it’s going to be a big switch for me for tomorrow’s match. I’m expecting a huge fight tomorrow. I feel like it’s going to be a great match.”
