Chwalinska becomes second Open Era qualifier to reach Grand Slam final
The 24-year-old defeated Russia’s Diana Shnaider in straight sets to set up a final against Mirra Andreeva, marking a significant deviation from traditional tournament pathways.
Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska has secured a historic place in tennis lore by becoming only the second player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final from the qualifying rounds. The 24-year-old defeated Russia’s Diana Shnaider 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Thursday to advance to the French Open final at Roland Garros.
According to statistics provider Opta, Chwalinska and Britain’s Emma Raducanu stand alone among male and female players in achieving this feat since the Open Era began in 1968. Chwalinska is the first to reach the final at Roland Garros in the professional era, completing a remarkable run that saw her win nine consecutive matches, including three qualifying rounds.
Chwalinska sealed her victory on her first match point with a forehand winner down the line. She reacted with visible emotion, burying her face in her hands and a towel before sitting on her chair. In her on-court interview, she described the experience as a dream, stating she wanted to enjoy the moment before addressing the magnitude of the achievement.
Her opponent in Saturday’s final will be Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who reached her first Grand Slam final by defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3. Andreeva, who reached the semifinals at Roland Garros two years ago, faces Chwalinska, who is playing in just her third Grand Slam main draw and her first WTA tour-level semifinal.
Chwalinska has dropped only one set in her nine-match run and has defeated four top-50 players in the main draw. If she wins the tournament, her ranking is projected to rise from 114th to 14th. Financially, she has earned approximately $1.6 million (€1.4 million) for reaching the final, with a potential $3.25 million (€2.8 million) for winning the title.
Shnaider, who took a medical timeout in the second set for a left leg issue, praised Chwalinska’s performance. She noted that Chwalinska moved incredibly well on the court and covered a lot of ground, making it difficult to win points even when they appeared secured.
