Qualifier Chwalinska makes history with surprise run to Roland Garros semifinals
It's not surprising to see a Polish player in the women's singles semifinals at Roland Garros. But few would have predicted that 24-year-old Maja Chwalinska would outlast her more accomplished compatriots -- four-time champion Iga Swiatek and former Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette -- to become that player.
On Wednesday, Chwalinska did just that, defeating No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6, 6-3 to reach the last four. The left-hander led 5-1 in the opening set before Kalinskaya rallied to level at 5-5, saving two set points along the way. Chwalinska recovered to take the set in a tiebreak and secured victory with two breaks of serve in the second set.
She will face the winner of the quarterfinal between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider for a place in the final.
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"Definitely very challenging one." Chwalinska told the media after her win. "The conditions were very tough. It was very windy today. You just need to be very focused, extra focused in these kind of conditions. I feel like what I did well was just stay calm when there was, 5-1 up and Anna, I think she started to play much more aggressive, and it was 5-All, I think. I'm just very proud that I stayed composed, and managed to win this set. Then the second set was just a battle. So I'm very happy, happy to win."
Only second qualifier to reach Roland Garros semifinals
Chwalinska becomes only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros women's singles semifinals after Nadia Podoroska achieved the feat in 2020. No qualifier has reached the French Open final in the Open Era, and she is now one win away from accomplishing that milestone.
The Pole also became just the sixth qualifier to reach the semifinals of a women's Grand Slam tournament, joining Christine Matison (Australian Open, 1978), Alexandra Stevenson (Wimbledon, 1999), Nadia Podoroska (Roland Garros, 2020), Emma Raducanu (US Open, 2021) and Dayana Yastremska (Australian Open, 2024).
Second-lowest-ranked Roland Garros semifinalist
Chwalinska, ranked No. 114 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, becomes the second-lowest-ranked women's singles semifinalist at Roland Garros, behind No. 361 Lois Boisson, who reached the last four in Paris a year ago.
Fourth Polish woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal
Chwalinska's win makes her the fourth Polish woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal, joining Agnieszka Radwanska, Swiatek and Linette. She is also only the second Polish woman to reach the semifinals in Paris after Swiatek.
Fifth player since 1990 to reach Roland Garros semis in main-draw debut
Making her Roland Garros main-draw debut, Chwalinska is only the fifth player since 1990 to reach the women's singles semifinals in Paris in her first main-draw appearance. She joins Jennifer Capriati (1990), Clarisa Fernandez (2002), Nadia Podoroska (2020) and Lois Boisson (2025). This was also only Chwalinska's third main-draw appearance at a Grand Slam tournament.
Top 50 debut assured next week
Chwalinska, who reached a career-high No. 113 in the WTA PIF Rankings last month, is guaranteed to break into the Top 50 for the first time when the new rankings are released next week. The Pole had never beaten a Top 50 player before this tournament, but her victory over Kalinskaya was her third Top 50 win of the fortnight, following victories over Elise Mertens and Maria Sakkari.
"My goal was to be top 100 this year. That was the main goal," Chwalinska said. "Coming here, my goal was to qualify. I felt like I'm doing a good job, like that I do the right things and I just need to be patient for it to click. Yeah, but, obviously, I didn't expect it to happen that way. But, I'm not complaining."