Chwalińska reaches French Open final after Shnaider defeat
The 24-year-old becomes the second Polish woman to reach the Open Era semifinals, following Iga Świątek, as she overcomes Russian opponent to advance.
Maja Chwalińska has secured her place in the 2026 French Open singles final, defeating Russian player Diana Shnaider 7-6(4), 6-4 in the quarterfinals. The victory marks the 24-year-old’s ninth consecutive win at the tournament and establishes her as the second Polish woman to reach the Open Era semifinals, following Iga Świątek.
Chwalińska, ranked world No. 114, enters her first main draw appearance at Roland Garros with a distinct tactical approach. Standing 5 feet 5 inches, she utilises a playing style characterised by slice, spin, and drop shots designed to disrupt the rhythm of baseliners. This strategy proved effective against Shnaider under the roof, allowing Chwalińska to control points and secure the match.
The path to the final required Chwalińska to navigate a challenging draw, beginning with qualifying rounds where she defeated Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen. In the main draw, she secured victories over No. 23 seed Elise Mertens, 2021 semifinalist Maria Sakkari, and French player Diane Parry. She then defeated No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
Chwalińska’s run to the final stands in contrast to the exit of Iga Świątek, the four-time champion who was knocked out in the fourth round by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. Świątek had reached the semifinals five out of six times between 2020 and 2025, leading to the tournament’s informal nickname “Poland Garros.” Chwalińska’s advancement ensures Poland remains represented in the final four.
The Polish player’s career has been marked by periods of injury and mental health challenges, including a hiatus to manage depression and knee surgery in 2022. Her only Grand Slam victory prior to this tournament was at Wimbledon four years ago. Chwalińska manages the pressure of her current success by limiting her social media use, posting one celebratory message per victory before disconnecting from her phone.
