Pole in the semi-finals
Qualifier creates sensation at the French Open
June 3, 2026 – 1:30 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff: The favorites at the French Open before the start were prominent, but an unknown Polish woman is currently stealing the show.
From the qualification to the semi-finals: Poland’s Maja Chwalinska’s sensational run at the French Open continues. With her 7:6 (7:3), 6:3 quarter-final win against the Russian Anna Kalinskaja in Paris, the 24-year-old achieved the best result by a qualifier since professional tennis began in 1968. The Argentinian Nadia Podoroska last achieved the feat in 2020.
“To be honest, I don’t know what’s happening right now,” said Chwalinska in disbelief: “Every single game here is kind of crazy for me. I’m very grateful.”
The world number 114, who made it into the main draw for the first time at the climax of the clay court season, overwhelmed Kalinskaja at times with her varied game. With a height of 1.64 meters and usually less powerful baseline shots than her competition, Chwalinska throws in a lot of cut slice balls as well as stops, but also surprising net attacks.
Kalinskaja only found a way to beat the outsider at the end of the first set and caught up again – but Chwalinska showed strong nerves. In the second round, the Pole left no serious doubts about her success. In the semi-finals she will now face the world number one Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus or the Russian Diana Schnaider.