French Open 2026: Who is Maja Chwalinska? semi final results, Maja Chwalinska defeats Diana Shnaider, when is the final, video

Polish world number 114 Maja Chwalinska admitted she felt “overwhelmed” by her shock run from qualifying to the final of the French Open, following her semi-final victory over Diana Shnaider on Thursday.

The 24-year-old’s 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory over Russian 25th seed Shnaider made her only the second woman to come through qualifying and reach a Grand Slam final in any major since the Open era began, after Emma Raducanu’s title run at the US Open in 2021.

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Chwalinska will meet Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s title-decider.

After sending a forehand winner past Shnaider on her first match point on Court Philippe Chatrier and collapsing to the ground, Chwalinska told reporters she felt “so many emotions”.

“I was just in such a shock. You know, just, I don’t know, joy, surprise,” she added of that victorious moment on court.

“I was just very, I feel like, overwhelmed also.” Appearing in her first main draw in Paris, Chwalinska, who had on three previous occasions failed to qualify for Roland Garros, has won nine matches across her three-week French Open campaign to stand on the brink of glory.

“I didn’t have many experiences, many opportunities before to play against such great players and high-ranked players,” she said.

“So it’s actually the first time that I have this opportunity. I’m happy that I’m taking it.”

– ‘Just one more match’ –

Chwalinska said her run to the final was “like a dream” moments after beating Shnaider.

“I don’t know what’s going on, I just, I dunno what to say. I’m sorry, I’m just very happy,” she added to raucous applauseon Court Philippe Chatrier.

One aspect of her run has been her ice-cold composure on court across. “I’m crazy sometimes also, yeah,” Chwalinska said of her emotions. “But I try to stay composed because I know it’s the best way for me… But inside there’s a storm believe me.” She added that despite her cool, calm exterior, she was acutely aware that she was on the edge of achieving something monumental.

“Let’s not pretend someone expected it,” Chwalinska said. “I mean, I was outside the top 100, and now I’m in the finals of a Grand Slam, so I feel like it’s a big thing.”

It’s an incredible rise for Chwalinska

Five years ago she took an indefinite break from tennis after losing in the first round of qualifying at Wimbledon.

Battling depression, she was unsure when or if she would ever return to professional tennis.

Returning to her homeland, Chwalinska was treated by mental health specialists and took up running and boxing in a bid to recover.

During this time the 24-year old got a small tatoo on her left hand, ‘free’.

It’s meaning?

“I will keep it to myself. You can make your own stories,” Chwalinska said after her semi final win.

Four months later she returned to tennis.

In an intriguing clash of styles between the variety of Chwalinska’s game and the power-hitting of Shnaider, it was the diminutive Pole who earned the first break to get 3-1 ahead before theRussian struck back.

After edging the first set on a tie-break, the second frame was level until Shnaider requested a medical time-out for a backmassage. After that stoppage, at 4-3, Chwalinska won the next three games to claim victory.

“I will give my all, it’s a Grand Slam final,” Chwalinska said, looking forward. “Let me enjoy this moment for now… I just want to breathe a little, enjoy it today then just recoveras best I can,” she added of preparations for her 10th and final match of the tournament.

Should Chwalinska lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen come the weekend, she will enter the top 15 in the WTA rankings. By reaching the final she is already ensured of climbing to world number 21.

“Now I know that my ranking will allow me to play more at the highest-ranked tournaments,” she said.

“I guess we’ll see how I will continue. For now I’m just trying to focus on just one more match.”