Chwalinska Surprises by Reaching French Open Final
If someone had mentioned that a Polish player would be in the finals at Roland Garros in 2026, most would likely say Iga Świętek—not Maya Chwalinska. Yet, here we are. On Thursday, Chwalinska triumphed over Diana Schneider with scores of 7-6, 6-4, marking her first appearance in a major final.
This is a big moment, especially considering Chwalinska has never previously participated in the French Open. On Saturday, she’ll have a chance to become the second qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam, following Emma Raducanu’s victory at the 2021 US Open.
She demonstrated impressive agility throughout her matches, racking up 36 unforced errors against Schneider, who had stunned top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the week.
When asked if she looks up to Raducanu for inspiration on clay, Chwalinska replied, “I don’t think she dropped a set. It was just incredible. The level is very close now. The qualifiers are also very good competitors.”
Chwalinska’s run has been so unexpected that she faced a bit of uncertainty about her accommodations in Paris as she advanced through the tournament.
“As I mentioned after my match with Sakkari, I found it tough to cover hotel expenses, knowing that I would get a paycheck after the tournament,” the 24-year-old shared.
Fortunately, she received support from back home. “The Polish company ‘Oshee’ is actually helping us with that, which is great. I’m very grateful,” she said.
Szwalinska has been candid about her struggles with mental health, having dealt with depression for two years before stepping away from the sport after losing in the 2021 Wimbledon qualifiers.
A year later, she made her Grand Slam debut at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, and now she finds herself on an unprecedented journey.
Chwalinska also took a moment to reflect on her long-standing friendship with Świętek. “We’ve known each other since we were 10. We definitely have a long history. She’s a great champion and a huge inspiration for all of us in Poland,” Chwalinska said.
On Saturday, she could carve out her own place in Polish tennis history as she faces Russia’s Mila Andrejeva in the women’s singles final.
