Who is Maja Chwalinska? Meet the Polish qualifier taking Roland Garros by storm

Few players arrived at Roland Garros with less attention than Maja Chwalinska. Two weeks later, the Polish qualifier has become one of the stories of the tournament.

Ranked No. 114 in the world at the start of the French Open, Chwalinska has defied expectations by winning eight consecutive matches, including three qualifying rounds, to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.

Her remarkable run has made her only the second women's qualifier in the Open Era to reach the French Open semi-finals, following Nadia Podoroska in 2020.

From Qualifier to Semi-finalist

Chwalinska's journey in Paris began long before the main draw. The 23-year-old had to navigate three qualifying matches just to earn her place in the tournament. Since then, she has produced a series of stunning performances against higher-ranked opponents.

Among her victims are:

• Qinwen Zheng, the reigning Olympic champion
• Elise Mertens, a seeded contender
• Maria Sakkari, former World No. 3
• Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals

Before this tournament, Chwalinska had never beaten a Top-50 player. She has now defeated three during her historic run.

The former junior partner of Iga Swiatek

Long before either player became known on the professional circuit, Chwalinska partnered fellow Pole Iga Swiatek in junior doubles competitions.

The pair reached the 2017 Australian Open girls' doubles final together, showcasing Poland's promising future in women's tennis.

While Swiatek went on to become a multiple Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, Chwalinska's path proved far more complicated. Today, however, it is Chwalinska who remains the last Polish woman standing at Roland Garros after Swiatek's earlier exit.

A career nearly lost to depression

One of the most inspiring aspects of Chwalinska's story is her comeback from mental health struggles. In 2021, after losing in Wimbledon qualifying, she stepped away from professional tennis indefinitely.

At the time, she admitted she had begun associating tennis with pressure, stress and unhappiness. The then-19-year-old returned home to Poland, spent time with family and sought professional support before eventually deciding to return to the sport.

That decision is now paying off in spectacular fashion.

Reflecting on her return, Chwalinska has previously explained that she no longer allows results to define her identity, a mindset that appears to be helping her thrive on tennis' biggest stage.

The unusual style troubling elite players

Standing at 5-foot-5, Chwalinska lacks the raw power that dominates much of the modern women's game. Instead, the left-hander relies on intelligence, creativity, and variation.

Her game is built around:

Slice Backhands

She frequently uses low skidding slices to disrupt opponents' rhythm.

Drop Shots

Chwalinska employs drop shots more often than most players on tour, forcing opponents out of position.

Defensive Variety

She mixes pace, spin and trajectory to create uncomfortable rallies.

Tactical Intelligence

Rather than overpowering opponents, she often wins by frustrating them into mistakes. This style has proven particularly effective on clay courts, where patience and point construction are rewarded.

Clay-Court Specialist Emerging

Although Chwalinska has spent much of her career competing on the lower-tier ITF and WTA 125 circuits, she has quietly built an impressive clay-court résumé. Before Roland Garros, she captured WTA 125 titles in:

• Florianópolis, Brazil
• Montreux, Switzerland
• Oeiras, Portugal

All three titles came on clay, offering early evidence that her game could thrive on the surface. Her success in Paris has now introduced her to a global audience.

Making history at Roland Garros

By reaching the semi-finals, Chwalinska has achieved several significant milestones:

First Grand Slam Semi-final

The deepest run of her professional career.

Open Era History

Only the sixth women's qualifier to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in the Open Era.

Polish Tennis Achievement

Only the second Polish woman after Swiatek to reach the French Open semi-finals.

Ranking Breakthrough

She is projected to rise inside the WTA Top 50 for the first time in her career.

The Dream Continues

When Chwalinska arrived in Paris, few expected her to survive qualifying. Now she finds herself among the final four players competing for one of tennis' biggest prizes.

Whether her run ends in the semi-finals or continues all the way to the title, the Polish qualifier has already become one of the defining stories of Roland Garros 2026.

As she continues her remarkable journey, Chwalinska is proving that rankings, reputation and past results mean little when confidence, resilience and belief come together at the perfect moment.

SportsLigue