Defending champion Li Na of China crashed out of the French Open on Monday, losing a fourth round tie 3-6 6-2 6-0 to unseeded Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.
Shvedova, the world No.142, will play either Varvara Lepchenko of the United States or fourth seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic for a place in the semi-finals.
Li, the 30-year-old world No.7, was attempting to be the first French Open women’s champion to successfully defend the title since Justine Henin in 2007.
After a confident start, Li had a spectacular meltdown in the second set and never recovered, notching 41 errors and ending up broken seven times by her 26-year-old opponent.
Shvedova had also made it to the Roland Garros quarter-finals in 2010, her first time in a grand slam last eight, and was the sole qualifier remaining in the women’s draw when she beat Li.