Maja Chwalinska, a 24-year-old Polish qualifier, has made history by becoming the first woman to reach the French Open final as a qualifier. Her remarkable run at Roland-Garros has captivated the tennis world, as she has won nine consecutive matches, including three in qualifying, to secure her maiden Grand Slam final appearance.
Historic Achievement
Chwalinska is the first player ever to qualify for the French Open final and only the second woman to reach a Grand Slam final as a qualifier, following Emma Raducanu's triumph at the 2021 US Open. She also joins Nadia Podoroska (2020) as the only qualifiers to reach the semi-finals in Paris.
Ranked 114th in the world, Chwalinska has defeated a string of top players, including 2024 Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, 23rd seed Elise Mertens, and former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari. Prior to this tournament, she had never beaten a top-50 player; now she has four such victories and will break into the top 50 herself.
Early Career and Personal Struggles
Born in Miechów, Poland, Chwalinska was a talented junior doubles player, reaching the girls' doubles final at the Australian Open in 2017 alongside Iga Swiatek. She made her senior Grand Slam qualifying debut at the 2020 Australian Open but took an indefinite break after a first-round loss at Wimbledon in 2021, citing depression. She returned after four months, seeking professional help and rediscovering her love for the sport.
Playing Style
At 5'5", Chwalinska lacks the height and power of many opponents, but compensates with a crafty, left-handed game. She uses drop shots, slices, and moonballs to disrupt opponents' rhythm. "I know that I'm playing different tennis than most of the girls on tour," she said. "I just try to change the rhythm a lot. It can be very annoying for other players."
Path to the Final
Chwalinska's run included a quarter-final victory over 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya, winning 7-6, 6-3 in a tense match with 12 breaks of serve. She then defeated 25th seed Diana Shnaider 7-6(4), 6-4 in the semi-finals, collapsing to the clay in disbelief. "Like a dream, honestly. I don't know what's going on," she said.
She will face Russian Mirra Andreeva, also a first-time Grand Slam finalist, in Saturday's final.
