Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska creates French Open history

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePolish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, has made history by reaching the French Open semi-finals, becoming only the second woman to achieve this feat after coming through the qualifying rounds. The 24-year-old has secured eight consecutive victories at Roland-Garros, including three in qualifying and five in the main draw, notably defeating higher-ranked opponents such as Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, Elise Mertens, and Maria Sakkari, before seeing off Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in Wednesday’s quarter-final.Chwalinska's remarkable run follows a period in 2021 when she took an indefinite break from tennis due to depression, later returning to the sport with a renewed perspective that results do not define her. Despite lacking the power of some opponents, the left-hander employs a 'wily, crafty' game, utilising drop shots, slices, and moonballs to disrupt rhythm and outmanoeuvre her rivals, a tactic that proved effective in her quarter-final win against Anna Kalinskaya. This unexpected success marks her maiden Grand Slam semi-final and will see her ranking surge into the top 50, a significant leap for a player who had never beaten a top-50 opponent before this tournament. In fullWho is Maja Chwalinska? The Polish qualifier on stunning run to French Open semi-finalsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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