Maja Chwalińska Reaches New Heights at French Open

The French Open has seen a consistent presence of Polish talent in its semifinals, earning the nickname ‘Poland Garros.’ Traditionally, Iga Świątek, a four-time champion, holds this spot. However, in a surprising turn, Świątek was eliminated in the fourth round by Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, as she aims to regain her dominant form.

In the absence of Świątek, another Polish player emerged to take the spotlight. Maja Chwalińska, ranked 114th in the world, has made an impressive debut in the main draw at Roland Garros. She won her eighth consecutive match on Wednesday, defeating the No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3. With this victory, Chwalińska became the second Polish woman to reach the French Open semifinals in the Open Era.

Continuing her remarkable run, Chwalińska secured her ninth victory on Thursday. She defeated Diana Shnaider, who had previously upset Aryna Sabalenka. Chwalińska’s triumph came with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4, leading her to the final. This achievement marks her as the lowest-ranked French Open finalist in the Open Era, highlighting a significant personal and professional success.

“I’m just very proud that I stayed composed, and managed to win this set,” Chwalińska commented after defeating Kalinskaya. “Then the second set was just a battle. So I’m very happy, happy to win.”

Chwalińska’s journey has been defined by her exceptional composure during her career’s pinnacle moment. As an aspiring junior in Poland, she reached the Australian Open girls’ doubles final in 2017, partnering with Świątek. However, their career paths diverged, with Chwalińska facing numerous challenges, including injuries and depression. Despite these setbacks, she primarily competes in WTA 125 tournaments and had only one Grand Slam victory before this event.

Chwalińska courageously shared her struggles, explaining how her sabbatical helped her regain focus. She stated, “I was struggling a lot. You know, I pushed at the beginning. I thought that I just need to stay very strong, tough, and just keep practicing. But then I just couldn’t get out of bed anymore. I was just lifeless, to be honest.” Taking a break was essential for her recovery, and she returned to the game, finding fulfillment in her comeback.

The French Open challenged Chwalińska with bigger stages and stronger competition, but she remained undaunted. She had never defeated a top 50 player before May 27, but her experience from the qualifying rounds boosted her confidence. Her path to the quarterfinals included victories over Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, No. 23 seed Elise Mertens, 2021 semifinalist Maria Sakkari, and Diane Parry. Initially facing concerns about hotel expenses, she found support from Oshee, a Polish sponsor with Świątek as a client.

Chwalińska remarked on qualifying and main draw quality, stating, “I think the level is very close, like, the qualifying is not much worse than the main draw. And the players in the qualifying, they are so good, as well. They are great competitors. We just need to fight, and just believe that maybe some day it will click for us, as well.”

Maja Chwalińska’s milestone achievement was unprecedented, as she had never progressed beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before. To maintain focus, she adhered to strict phone usage rules, allowing herself only one celebratory post per victory.

Chwalińska’s anonymity among opponents worked to her advantage in Paris. Except for Sakkari, she hadn’t faced any of her challengers before. Her unique gameplay involves a combination of slice, spin, drop shots, and unpredictable rhythm that confounds opponents.

Standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall, her style capitalizes on strategic play designed to unsettle baseliners. “I’m aware that it can be very annoying for other players,” she noted. In her spare time, she enjoys playing chess, illustrating her tactical mindset.

Her tactics proved successful against Kalinskaya and Shnaider, as she executed unpredictable shots and maintained composure. Each commanding win marked a milestone in her career.