Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska reached the French Open final on Thursday, becoming the first woman to advance from the qualifying rounds to a Roland Garros championship match in the professional era. The 24-year-old defeated Diana Shnaider 7-6(4), 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to move one win away from an historic title.
How did Chwalinska reach the final?
Chwalinska won nine matches across three weeks at Roland Garros, beginning with three qualifying-round victories before advancing through the main draw. According to Tennis.com, she saved two break points while holding for 6-5 in the opening set, then recovered in the tiebreak by claiming the final five points. In the second set, Chwalinska won her third return game to seize control of the match. She finished with 32 winners against 17 unforced errors, while Shnaider recorded 33 winners and 36 unforced errors.
Who will she face in the final?
Chwalinska will play eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia in Saturday's championship. The 19-year-old Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam final by defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 earlier Thursday on the same court.
What makes this run historic?
Only Emma Raducanu has matched Chwalinska's feat in the Open Era, winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. Chwalinska is appearing in just her third Grand Slam main draw, with her previous best result being a second-round exit at Wimbledon in 2022. She has defeated four top-50 players en route to the final, including Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen in the first round. According to Sportsnet.ca, Chwalinska's ranking will climb from No. 114 to No. 14 if she wins the tournament, and she will earn approximately 2.8 million euros (about CAD $3.25 million) in prize money for a title.
What has Chwalinska said about her run?
Chwalinska told reporters she is maintaining focus by keeping her routine simple, saying she plans to sleep, drink tea, and watch tennis to help her read the game better. She acknowledged the emotional intensity beneath her composed demeanor, telling Roland-Garros officials: "I'm crazy sometimes also, but I try to stay composed because I know that it's the best way for me. Inside there is a storm, believe me." She also credited the Parisian crowd's support during her semifinal, saying the energy from spectators helped her considerably.
The final is scheduled for Saturday at Roland Garros.
Sources
- Tennis.com: "I don't know what's going on": Maja Chwalinska becomes first qualifier to reach Roland Garros final. Published 2026-06-04.
- Sportsnet.ca: Mirra Andreeva to face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in French Open Final. Published 2026-06-04.
- Roland-Garros: Unheralded Chwalinska books maiden Slam final. Published 2026-06-04.
- FlashscoreUSA.com: French Open 2026: Maja Chwalinska keeping fully focused ahead of final. Published 2026-06-04.
Reported from public sources.