The Athletic is providing live coverage of the 2026 French Open Men’s Semi-Finals. Polish women have notably excelled at the tournament, often referred to as “Polish Garros,” thanks to Iga Świętek, who reached the semifinals five of six times from 2020 to 2025. However, this year she was eliminated in the fourth round by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
In Świętek’s absence, Maja Chwalinska, ranked World No. 114 and making her main draw debut at Roland Garros, emerged as a standout. She defeated 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaja 7-6 (3), 6-3, marking her as only the second Polish woman after Świętek to reach the semifinals in the Open era. Chwalinska’s journey included eliminating Aryna Sabalenka’s conqueror, Deanna Schneider, in the semifinals.
Chwalinska’s achievements are particularly inspiring considering her struggles with injuries and mental health. Before this tournament, her lifetime earnings were around $864,000, which has surged to $1.6 million due to her performance at Roland Garros. She expressed pride in maintaining composure throughout her matches.
Despite never having beaten a top 50 player before this, she built confidence during her successful qualifying rounds. Chwalinska’s unique playing style, characterized by slice and spin, has proven challenging for her opponents. Off the court, she manages her social media carefully and enjoys playing chess. Overall, her accomplishments reflect a remarkable turnaround in her career.
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