From the outside it appeared nothing could have prepared the 24-year-old, ranked 114th in the world, for a run so deep.

On closer inspection, this passion for following the sport has helped mould one of her greatest strengths and could prove key to her chances against world No.8 Mirra Andreeva in her first Grand Slam decider.

Through nine matches, Chwalinksa has demonstrated an exceptional ability to read play, pre-empting her opponent’s next move. It is a skill that has not gone unnoticed since she began her qualifying campaign almost three weeks ago.

“I feel like it's a few things," Chwalinska said. "I think first I definitely study my opponent. I try to. The second thing, I think it's natural.”

“And the other thing is I think watching tennis, I love watching tennis. When I was younger, I watched tennis all day, every day. So I feel like it really helps me with reading the game better.”

Poland has precedence with a rank outsider sweeping all before them in the French capital.

Six years ago, a 19-year-old Iga Swiatek – then the world No. 54 – pulled off the unthinkable to win her maiden major on Court Philippe-Chatrier. It also happened to be her first tour title.

Chwalinska could follow in her childhood friend’s footsteps from an even unlikelier position.

Her 7-6(4), 6-4 upset of 25th seed Diana Shnaider left the qualifier with plenty on which to ruminate following a surge in press commitments on Thursday night.

Much like her on-court routines, it was a case of rinse and repeat to keep those emotions in check.

“I'm going to sleep and I'm going to drink my tea,” she smiled. “I'm going to watch something good, maybe some tennis a bit, because I'm a tennis freak.”

Kettle on and digging into the archives, she’d do worse than finding old footage of her idols to fuel her final tilt.

All are former champions in Paris and three of the greatest to have picked up a racquet.

“I was Roger's No.1 fan," she said. "When I started playing tennis, it was all about Roger. And then Rafa and then Novak. So now I'm just praying that Novak keeps on playing so I can watch him play.

“I'm just actually very grateful that I was growing up during this era, you know," she added. "And sometimes I come back to these old matches and I watch them play and it feels like poetry, really."

Already up to world No.21, Chwalinska will have to drastically rethink her season’s goals from here.

Should she go all the way she would climb to world No.14 – that’s a top-16 seeding for Wimbledon, unthinkable only a fortnight ago.

For now, that’s far from mind as the self-confessed "tennis freak" seeks the necessary disconnect before the biggest match of her life.