French Open: Will Chwalinska create the next sensation?

French Open semi-finals

The audience goes wild: the qualifier scores spectacularly

A previously unknown Pole is making history at the French Open. Now she wants to get to the final. Will she succeed in the coup? The live ticker.

Maja Chwalinska can create something historical. The 24-year-old qualifier from Poland is in the semifinals of the French Open, knocking out experienced players like Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari and Anna Kalinskaya. The Russian Diana Shnaider, who surprisingly defeated superstar Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday, is now waiting in the semi-finals. Who will prevail?

1st set, 3:3 – First double fault from Shnaider at 30:0, in the next rally she provokes a forehand out of bounds from Chwalinska. She just has to get through her serve game – and she can’t do it. Chwalinska does an excellent job, keeps the rallies long, continues to defend outstandingly, and always plays her balls to the lines. So she fights back, she completes a 20-shot rally with a great forehand longline and has the next break ball. Shnaider fends it off and it’s a tie. In the end she struggles to complete her serve game with a forehand winner.

1st set, 2:3 – Then Shnaider screams: She manages the re-break straight away – because Chwalinka puts a stop next to the line. But the Russian has to work really hard here.

1st set, 1:3 – Shnaider is already starting to seem unnerved at this point in the game. Chwalinska keeps duping her. A backhand stop, an unforced error from the Russian, then she puts another ball on the line – and has three break points. Shnaider is already shaking his head. And gives up her serve game with the next forehand error.

1st set, 1:2 – Chwalinska repeatedly tries with great stop balls directly to the line, but Shnaider gets there again and responds with a counterstop. Chwailinska caught her opponent off guard with a great backhand cross. And adds another highlight: Shnaider tries deep and long into the corner – but the Pole is there and scores with a great forehand longline. With the next forehand ball she brings her serve game through. And gets applause from the audience again.

1st set, 1:1 – Shnaider is almost caught out cold here – she struggles to hold her serve. Chwalinska’s unconventional game with lots of high balls causes her problems. Although Shnaider brings a nice forehand inside out to make it 30-0, she wants to put pressure on straight away. But Chwalinska counters with a fine stop, the audience applauds loudly for the first time in this game. She follows up with a backhand. Now the first long rallies are developing – it will be spectacular: Chwanlinska puts a stop very close to the line, Shnaider runs it, but the Pole is there and finishes with a volley into the open field. Again it’s a tie several times. With a great forehand winner and a service winner, she is now also on the scoreboard.