The French Open has become a familiar stage for Polish women, often featuring past champion Iga Świątek in the semifinals. However, this year, Świątek exited early, losing in the fourth round to Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine. Despite this, Poland is still represented, as Maja Chwalińska steps up in a stunning debut performance.
Chwalińska, ranked No. 114 in the world, has made a remarkable run to the final in her first main draw appearance at Roland Garros. On Wednesday, she secured her eighth consecutive victory, defeating No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya with scores of 7-6(3), 6-3. This triumph marked her as the second Polish woman after Świątek to reach the French Open semifinals during the Open Era as a qualifier.
The next day, Chwalińska continued her victorious streak, overcoming 22-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider, who had previously defeated Aryna Sabalenka. The match concluded with Chwalińska winning 7-6(4), 6-4, solidifying her position as the lowest-ranked finalist in the Open Era at the French Open. Her journey in Paris has been transformative, impacting her life beyond tennis.
Before her impressive performance at Roland Garros, Chwalińska had accumulated career earnings of $864,030. Her success in the tournament has so far added $1,624,000 to her earnings, a significant boost to her career. In a press conference after defeating Kalinskaya, Chwalińska expressed pride in maintaining her composure throughout the matches, describing the second set as a challenging battle.
Chwalińska’s mental fortitude has been crucial in achieving this milestone. She previously excelled as a junior player in Poland and reached the Australian Open girls’ doubles final with Świątek in 2017. However, injuries, including knee surgery, and a period of depression, have hindered her progress. She usually plays in WTA 125 tournaments, a step below the WTA Tour level. Her only Grand Slam victory before this event was at Wimbledon four years ago, after she took a break to focus on her mental health.
“I was struggling a lot,” Chwalińska said about her time off. “I needed to take a break and wasn’t sure if I would return. I had to sort things out in my mind, but I’m happy I came back.”
Chwalińska, now 24, has not been intimidated by bigger stages and stronger opponents. Before May 27, she hadn’t beaten a top-50 player. Her perseverance in the qualifiers strengthened her confidence. She went on to defeat notable players like Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, No. 23 seed Elise Mertens, 2021 semifinalist Maria Sakkari, and French player Diane Parry, earning her a spot in the quarterfinals. Financial concerns about accommodation were alleviated by a sponsorship from Oshee, which also supports Świątek.
“The level is comparable to the main draw,”
Chwalińska said about the competition in the qualifiers. “The players are excellent, and we need to keep fighting and believing.”
Reaching the final at the French Open is an unprecedented achievement for Chwalińska, who previously never surpassed the second round in a Grand Slam. She manages her focus by limiting her phone usage to posting one celebratory message per victory and then disconnects.
Her lesser-known status has given her an edge over opponents in Paris. Having only faced Sakkari once before, her distinctive style is difficult to counter. Chwalińska, standing at 5 feet 5 inches, honed a game filled with slice and spin, using drop shots to disrupt opponents’ rhythm.
“I’m aware it can be annoying for others,”
she noted. “I try to use it as much as possible.”
Beyond tennis, Chwalińska enjoys playing chess. On Wednesday, her strategic play against Kalinskaya and again against Shnaider proved effective. She implemented unexpected drop shots, skillfully looping forehands and backhands to disrupt Shnaider’s game, and strategically took shots down the line. Throughout, Chwalińska maintained her composure, achieving the biggest victories of her career in consecutive matches.
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