Maja Chwalińska's fairytale French Open ends in final defeat to Andreeva, but a star is born

A run for the history books

Maja Chwalińska became the first qualifier in the professional era to reach a French Open final, fighting through nine matches at Roland Garros and dropping just one set along the way. Her victims included established names like Maria Sakkari and Diana Shnaider, the latter in Thursday's semi-final. The 24-year-old's journey dominated Polish social media, with old TV interviews of a teenage Chwalińska resurfacing and capturing the public imagination.

To play this sport professionally, I think you need qualities like perseverance. You have to keep working on yourself all the time and not give up.

Those words, spoken by a 13-year-old Chwalińska in an archived TVP Katowice video, proved prophetic. Her parents described a childhood mapped out from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., built around schoolwork and training. "Maja is still a child, but right now she has no time for childhood," her mother Marcela said at the time.

The final hurdle

Saturday's final pitted the qualifier against the eighth seed, and the power differential told. Andreeva struck the ball at up to 200 kilometres per hour into the wind, while Chwalińska managed 120 to 130 with the wind at her back, according to former Polish Olympic Committee spokesman Andrzej Person. The Russian teenager broke early and often, racing to a 5-0 lead in the second set before Chwalińska salvaged two games. The match ended 6-3, 6-2.

I cried a bit, but I'm also very proud of myself. I wish this match had looked different, so people could see me in a better light. Mirra was much better than me today, but I gave it everything. I can't blame myself.

A flag and a flashpoint

Moments after the final point, as Andreeva celebrated on her knees, a pair of spectators unfurled a Russian flag in the stands. Security personnel moved quickly, locating the flag's owners and ordering it stowed away. Journalist Ben Rothenberg publicised the incident on X, and Polish and Ukrainian fans reacted with anger. Andreeva herself struck a gracious note during the trophy ceremony, congratulating Chwalińska and her team and saying she hoped they would meet in more finals.

From crisis to comeback

Chwalińska's path to the Paris final was anything but linear. In 2021 she suspended her career and battled depression, a struggle she has spoken about openly. Eurosport presenter Justyna Kostyra noted that Chwalińska's willingness to discuss mental health is itself admirable. Commentator Joanna Sakowicz-Kostecka recalled a press conference years ago when a despondent Chwalińska said she did not understand how anyone could support her. "Look at what is happening around her now, what she has achieved," Sakowicz-Kostecka said. "In three years she has climbed almost to the very top of world tennis."

What comes next

Despite the loss, Chwalińska will rise 93 places in the WTA rankings to world number 21 on Monday. Her prize money from Roland Garros alone amounts to nearly 6 million złoty, which she plans to invest in training equipment and her own development. Her next tournament is Wimbledon, though it remains unclear whether she will enter via qualifying or receive a wild card into the main draw. Her manager, Piotr Szczypka, confirmed she will play no warm-up events before the grass-court major. Qualifying begins on 22 June.

A shame, but that's sport. Maja wanted to show more, but her opponent wouldn't let her. A fantastic tournament that changes everything in her life and career. Good luck and thanks for the fantastic emotions.