When Maja Chwalinska arrived in Paris three weeks ago, simply earning a place in the main draw would have been considered a successful tournament. Now, she is one victory away from becoming a Grand Slam champion.
Unreal.
Absolutely unreal. pic.twitter.com/6zW1Y7N6sb
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 4, 2026
The 24-year-old Pole continued one of the most astonishing runs in recent tennis history on Thursday, defeating No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider 7-6(4) 6-4 to secure a place in the Roland Garros final. The result places Chwalinska in a category all her own: she is the first qualifier ever to reach the women’s singles final in Paris. Actually, Chwalinska is just the second qualifier to reach a major final in the Open Era, matching the extraordinary achievement of Emma Raducanu, who famously captured the 2021 US Open title after coming through qualifying.
Not only is this Chwalinska’s first appearance in the Roland Garros main draw after falling in qualifying on three previous occasions, but before this tournament she had managed just two tour-level victories on clay throughout her entire career.
Maja Chwalinska after becoming the 1st qualifier to reach the Roland Garros final
“I mean… like a dream honestly. I don’t know what’s going on. 😂 I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I’m just very happy.”
🥹🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/CSsyH6zJjC
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 4, 2026
“It’s like a dream, honestly,” she said moments after securing the biggest victory of her career. “I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what to say. I’m just very happy.”
Entering the tournament ranked No. 114 in the world, Chwalinska is now projected to soar up the rankings and is within touching distance of a Top 20 debut.
The Polish star has also joined an exclusive club in tournament history. She is only the third woman in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros final during her first main-draw appearance at the event, following tennis legends Evonne Goolagong in 1971 and Chris Evert in 1973.
Saturday’s final will feature two first-time Grand Slam finalists, with Chwalinska taking on world No. 8 and eighth seed Mirra Andreeva. Earlier on Thursday, Andreeva booked her place in the championship match with a 6-1 6-3 victory over No. 15 seed Marta Kostyuk, ending the Ukrainian’s 17-match winning streak.
The title match will be the first career meeting between Andreeva and Chwalinska, who will face a Top 10 opponent for the first time in her career.
