Qualifier Chwalinska Advances to French Open Semi-Finals, Sustaining Remarkable Tournament Journey

Qualifier Maja Chwalinska has propelled herself into the semi-finals of the French Open, defeating Anna Kalinskaya to secure her first Grand Slam semi-final appearance. The world No. 114 expressed utter disbelief following her impressive 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory over the 22nd seed, Kalinskaya, on a windy day in Paris.

Chwalinska, representing Poland, has become only the second qualifier in history, following Nadia Podoroska in 2020, to reach the singles semi-finals at Roland Garros. She is also just the sixth qualifier in the Open era to achieve this milestone in women’s singles at a Grand Slam tournament. Of those six, only one—Britain’s Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open—went on to claim the title.

In the final four, Chwalinska faces a potential clash with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian is scheduled to play Russian Diana Shnaider later on Wednesday.

“I honestly don’t know what is going on,” Chwalinska told the spectators. “I know I repeat myself, but every match here is kind of crazy for me.”

The Polish player’s ascent is particularly striking given her recent history. She arrived in Paris having recorded only two victories in WTA Tour-level main-draw matches. Her previous Grand Slam win dated back to Wimbledon in 2022. However, she has now embarked on an eight-match winning streak on Parisian clay, surrendering just a single set throughout the campaign.

This resurgence marks a dramatic turnaround for a player who once considered leaving the sport entirely. Chwalinska battled depression for two years and took an indefinite break from tennis after losing in the first round of qualifying at Wimbledon in 2021. At that time, she had lost her passion for training and competition and was uncertain about returning. With encouragement from her support network, the visibility of mental health discussions among peers like Naomi Osaka, and occasional forays into other sports, she gradually returned to the court.

Now, she stands on the brink of a historic semi-final, possibly against tournament favorite Sabalenka. Throughout the Paris tournament, Chwalinska has displayed a blend of creative joy and competitive freedom, overcoming two seeded opponents and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Against Kalinskaya, Chwalinska demonstrated significant mental resilience. After allowing a 5-1 lead to evaporate in the first set, she regrouped to win five consecutive points from a 3-2 deficit in the tie-break. In the second set, she maintained her composure despite being broken while trying to serve out the match, eventually converting her first match point on Kalinskaya’s service game.

“I was definitely nervous. I am stressed, of course, but I try to focus on my job and my games,” Chwalinska explained. “I am not focusing on confidence. I am playing against the best players in the world, so I will not compare myself to them.”

Regardless of the outcome in the semi-finals, Chwalinska is poised to jump into the world’s top 30 in the rankings. The achievement has also significantly boosted her financial standing; reaching the semi-finals has earned her £647,700, more than doubling her career earnings of £642,400 in just ten days.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 11:45:22 UTC