PARIS, France (AFP) — Maja Chwalinska made French Open history as the world No. 114 became the first qualifier in the professional era to reach the Roland Garros final, where she will take on Mirra Andreeva.
The Polish downed Diana Shnaider 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in the Last Four to join Russian 19-year-old Andreeva, a straight-sets winner over Marta Kostyuk, in Saturday’s title-decider.
Should she beat Andreeva in the final, Chwalinska will become just the second woman to come through qualifying and win a Grand Slam final in any major since the Open era began, after Emma Raducanu’s title run at the US Open in 2021.
The 24-year-old said her run in the French capital was “just like a dream,” moments after beating 25th seed Shnaider, who a day before had eliminated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Chwalinska’s only previous meeting with Shnaider was at an ITF event in Istanbul four years ago, which the Russian won.
“I don’t know what’s going on, I just, I dunno what to say. I’m sorry, I’m just very happy,” the Pole added to raucous applause on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Chwalinska, appearing in her first main draw in Paris, has won nine matches across a three-week campaign at Roland Garros that started with three rounds of qualifying last month.
She admitted that her physical state was “not great” in the aftermath of her two-hour-10-minute semi-final win.
“I mean it’s so challenging to play against the best players in the world day by day, but it’s a Grand Slam so you just have to give your best day by day,” she added.
“But I’m not complaining at all!”
Chwalinska had only won one match in her two previous Grand Slam appearances, at Wimbledon in 2022, and only two tour-level matches on clay before Roland Garros.
En route to the last four, Chwalinska started out by downing Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen in the first round before felling 23rd seed Elise Mertens, former world number three Maria Sakkari, hometown hope Diane Parry and 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya.
Chwalinska is projected to climb to at least a career-high No. 21 in the rankings.
After edging the first set on a tie-break, the second frame was level until Shnaider requested a medical time-out for a back massage. After that stoppage, at 4-3, Chwalinska won the next three games to claim victory.
“I was just in such a shock. You know, just, I don’t know, joy, surprise,” Chwalinska said, reflecting on the sensations that immediately followed her forehand winner on her first match point.
“I was just very, I feel overwhelmed also.”
Defeat brought an end to Shnaider’s career-best major performance.
“Very proud of myself, what I achieved here,” the 22-year-old said.
“(Chwalinska) played unreal, and she definitely deserved this win today and to be in the final.”
Earlier, Andreeva raced into her first Grand Slam final as she beat an erratic Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3.
The teenager, who had twice lost to Ukrainian Kostyuk this season, including the Madrid Open final, said she was “so focused that I could see those hairs on the ball” as she romped to victory in 76 minutes on court.
“I’m super happy with the way I played and then that I got revenge for the Madrid final and I’m happy that I’m in my first-ever Grand Slam final,” Andreeva said.
The 15th-seeded Kostyuk went into her maiden major semi-final on a 17-match winning streak on clay but quickly unravelled on Court Philippe Chatrier, where she had four days earlier eased past four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek.
