Maja Chwalinska Stuns Paris, Reaches French Open Final as a Qualifier
Maja Chwalinska has turned her Parisian dream into a possible fairytale ending after reaching the French Open final. The 24-year-old qualifier achieved an impressive 7-6 (4) 6-4 victory over Diana Shnaider on Court Philippe Chatrier, marking her ninth consecutive win at Roland Garros. This victory sets her up for a final showdown against Mirra Andreeva, the eighth seed. Arriving in Paris ranked 114th, Chwalinska began her journey as one of 128 hopefuls, having never previously defeated a top-50 player. Her remarkable run now includes victories over four higher-ranked opponents, including Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. She aims to replicate Emma Raducanu's historic achievement by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title since Raducanu did it five years ago. Chwalinska faced a formidable challenge against the 25th seed, Shnaider, who had just defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka. However, Chwalinska’s unique playing style, characterized by intelligent spins and angles, proved too complex for her opponents. The first set of Chwalinska’s match even surpassed Andreeva’s earlier 6-1 6-3 victory over Marta Kostyuk in duration. After sealing her win, Chwalinska collapsed to the clay in disbelief, later describing the moment as "like a dream". Despite the physical toll of her extensive matches, she remains optimistic about recovery, planning to rest, drink tea, and indulge in her love for tennis. Financially, Chwalinska is set to triple her career earnings with guaranteed prize money of 1.4 million euros (approximately £1.2 million). She acknowledged the support of a Polish company that helped cover her hotel expenses and humorously noted a quirky habit of her coaching team, who indulge in daily pizza, despite the potential weight gain. In contrast, Mirra Andreeva at just 19 years old is the youngest finalist, yet carries the weight of experience from her previous semifinal appearance two years ago. She has developed greater emotional maturity, stating, "Before, I was nervous... but now I feel like, if she broke me, well, so what?" This newfound perspective might be crucial in the final match against Chwalinska.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-06-04