2nd set, 6:7 (4:7), 3:3 – A service winner, a forehand longline – Chwalinska’s game doesn’t just look so easy in comparison to that of her opponent. You can forgive her for a forehand that goes out of bounds. She plays it beautifully and makes no move to let Shnaider get away. She puts more speed into her first serve, making it 40:15. Then Shnaider overpowers, is too impatient and puts a backhand way out of bounds.
2nd set, 6:7 (4:7), 3:2 – Some luck for the Pole with a forehand that falls from the edge of the net into Shnaider’s half. But then the Russian is too hesitant to advance, Chwalinska plays her ball back with a lob, but it is too far. Shnaider closes with a serve winner, but has to take a breather again.
2nd set, 6:7 (4:7), 2:2 – Then Chwalinska clenches her fist. A serve winner to make it 40:15, then she finishes with a nice forehand cross.
2nd set, 6:7 (4:7), 2:1 – Shnaider plays her serve confidently. She continues to struggle for more calm and has now turned this sentence around.
2nd set, 6:7 (4:7), 1:1 – Shnaider manages a backhand longline for a change. But Chwalinska responds with a service winner. Once again both deliver a great rally: over 15 strokes we once again see the game conditions illustrated: Chwalinska scores with finesse. She opens the court with a forehand and closes the score at 30:30 with the next, Shnaider can only watch. But the Russian still holds on: she manages to provoke a forehand error from the Pole – and takes the qualifier’s serve because she can’t get over the net with a backhand under pressure.
2nd set, 6:7 (4:7), 0:1 – What else should Shnaider try? She comes forward herself and tries to stop – but Chwalinska is there and beats her with a lob, which of course drips into the field. With a forehand winner she makes it 40:15 and has two break points right at the start of this set. Shnaider noticeably thinks about it. She comes online and wants to try something. Result: Your volley does not come over the edge of the net. And Chwalinska takes the serve from her.
1st set, 6:7 (4:7) – The qualifier converted the first set ball straight away. Shnaider wants to pick up the pace, takes more risks with her shots – and puts a backhand next to the line. She waves him off. And Maja Chwalinska deservedly won this first set in the semifinals. She was the more variable player in this round, defended outstandingly over longer stretches and always had an answer ready to her opponent’s blows. With twelve unforced errors, she made ten fewer than the Russian and took advantage of a break chance. And drove Diana Shnaider to despair with her unconventional playing.