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Unseeded Polish player makes history at Roland Garros
Maja Chwalinska, ranked 114th globally, has become the first Polish qualifier to reach the French Open women's singles semi-finals since 2020, defying expectations with a remarkable run in Paris.
From qualification to semi-finals: A dream run
Chwalinska arrived in Paris with only two career tour-level clay victories to her name. Yet, within days, she surpassed that tally, securing her debut in the main draw of Roland Garros. Her journey didn't stop there. The 24-year-old stunned the tennis world by defeating 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in the quarter-finals, leaving her visibly shocked.
With this victory, Chwalinska joined an elite group, becoming only the second qualifier-after Nadia Podoroska in 2020-to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros. She is also just the sixth qualifier in the Open era to achieve this feat across all four Grand Slam tournaments.
"I honestly don't know what is going on. Coming here, my goal was to qualify. I felt like I'm doing the right things and I just need to be patient for it to click. I didn't expect it to happen that way-but I'm not complaining."
Maja Chwalinska
A journey of resilience and rediscovery
Chwalinska's path to the semi-finals is as much a story of personal triumph as it is of athletic achievement. Five years ago, she considered leaving tennis altogether after struggling with depression. A first-round exit in Wimbledon qualifying left her feeling disillusioned, and she took an indefinite break from the sport, unsure if she would ever return.
"I was struggling a lot," she reflected. "I pushed at the beginning, I thought that I just needed to stay very strong and just keep practicing. But then I just couldn't get out of bed anymore. I was just lifeless."
With the support of her inner circle and inspired by players like Naomi Osaka, who have spoken openly about mental health, Chwalinska gradually found her way back to the court. Her return has been nothing short of extraordinary, culminating in this historic run at Roland Garros.
On-court brilliance and composure
In Paris, Chwalinska has played with a freedom and creativity that has captivated fans. Her road to the semi-finals included victories over two seeded players and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Against Kalinskaya, she demonstrated remarkable composure, recovering from a shaky start to dominate the tie-break and eventually close out the match.
"I was definitely nervous. I am stressed, of course, but I try to focus on my job and my games," she said. "I am not focusing on confidence. I am playing against the best players in the world, so I will not compare myself to them."
Financial security and a leap in rankings
Chwalinska's success on the court has also brought significant financial rewards. By reaching the semi-finals, she has earned £647,700 in prize money, more than doubling her career earnings, which previously stood at £642,400. Regardless of the outcome of her semi-final match, she is projected to break into the world's top 30, a far cry from her goal at the start of 2026 to enter the top 100.
Her opponent in the semi-finals will be Diana Shnaider, the 25th seed, who pulled off a major upset by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
What's next for Chwalinska?
As Chwalinska prepares for her semi-final clash, the tennis world watches in awe at her transformation from a player on the brink of quitting to a contender on one of the sport's biggest stages. Whether she advances further or not, her journey has already etched her name in the annals of Grand Slam history.
