As a qualifier to the final of a Grand Slam. What sounds too cheesy to be true was achieved by Maja Chwalinska at the French Open on Thursday evening. The Pole won against the favored Russian Diana Shnaider 7:6 (7:4) and 6:4.
It’s these stories that delight sports fans everywhere. This was also the case at this year’s French Open, where the world number 113 reached the final in Paris. The 24-year-old had never made it into the main draw in Paris before and now the qualifier will face the Russian Mirra Andreeva in the final. Previously, only Emma Raducanu had achieved this at the US Open. The Englishwoman triumphed as a qualifier in Flushing Meadows in 2021.
Chwalinska didn’t want to talk about the final at first, but instead wanted to enjoy the moment. “I don’t know what’s going on here at all”the winner, who seemed almost horrified, struggled for words. “I’m mentally and physically broken. It’s so tiring playing against the best players in the world every day. But I don’t want to complain”continued the Pole, thereby gaining further sympathy points from the audience. The qualifiers had that on their side anyway, thanks in part to some spectacular rallies.
After 37 minutes it was only 3:3 on Court Philippe Chatrier. Both players were already able to steal a serve from their opponent at that point. The semi-finalists repeatedly delivered long and demanding rallies, which the fans in Paris rewarded with loud applause.
Chwalinska unnerves Shnaider with long rallies
The favored Shnaider in particular seemed visibly annoyed by her own susceptibility to errors. When the score was 4:4, the world number 25 had already made 15 unforced errors. But the game cost energy, even for the Pole, who was already playing her ninth game in Paris. Thickly bandaged, Chwalinska served her serve despite several break points to make it 6:5 – at this point the game had already been played for over an hour.
So it’s no wonder that this closely fought game went to a tie-breaker. There the qualifier fought for two set points with some spectacular balls and won the first set 7:6 (7:4). With this sense of achievement behind her, the left-hander started the second set ideally and got the first break (1:0).
Both players need one Treatment break
The Russian didn’t give up after that and remembered her strengths, which she had also excelled in the quarter-finals against Aryna Sabalenka (2:2). So that an equally balanced second movement developed, which was in no way inferior to the first. Both players now served with much more confidence, also thanks to the help of physiotherapists.
Shnaider in particular seemed to be having problems with her back, so the Russian was treated on the field. Her counterpart was in no way distracted by the break and played excellent tennis for the next eleven minutes. Both on the line and at the net, the underdog always seems to have the right answer to her opponent’s shots.
A perfectly timed backhand stop brought Chwalinska the break to 5:4 and left Shnaider shaking his head. The Russian sought her coach’s gaze more and more often, but even he couldn’t prevent the Pole from completing the surprise after 2:10 hours and moving into the Roland Garros final.