Mind-boggling stats around Pole's run in Paris
Paris in the springtime has led to disarray on the clay. That’s music to Maja Chwalinska’s ears. The 24-year-old southpaw from Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland, has plotted a path from qualifying to the cusp of a Grand Slam title by winning nine consecutive matches, each victory more unlikely than the last.
On Saturday, the world No.114 will bid for her first major title against 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva. One of the most unlikely Grand Slam finalists in tennis history, Chwalinska had two tour-level clay court wins to her name before she took her place in the women’s singles main draw in Paris.
Read on for a closer look at her astounding run.
Chwalinska is the second qualifier in the Open era to reach the singles final in a major after Emma Raducanu at the US Open 2021, and the first to do so at Roland-Garros.
Prior to Roland-Garros, Chawlinska had earned $864,030 in prize money for her career. She’s already added $1.628 million to that total, and could add another $1.628 million by winning the title.
Among players to debut at Roland-Garros in the Open era, Maja Chwalinska is the third to reach the women’s singles final at the event at their maiden main draw appearance, after Evonne Goolagong (1971) and Chris Evert (1973).
The Pole is making her first main draw appearance at Roland-Garros after falling in qualifying in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
At world No.114, Chwalinska is the third player ranked outside the top 100 to reach a Grand Slam final in the last 40 years. Serena Williams (No.181 at Wimbledon 2018) and Emma Raducanu (No.150 at the US Open 2021) are the other two.
Chwalinska (career-high No.113) is projected to climb to No.21 with her trip to the final, and No.14 if she wins it all.
Chwalinska is the third player in the Open era to reach her maiden WTA-level final at a Grand Slam, after Venus Williams (US Open 1997) and Emma Raducanu (US Open 2021). She had never reached a tour-level semifinal prior to this week.
Chwalinska has claimed six main draw wins en route to the final – as many as in her entire career combined prior to this event. She had never won more than two tour-level matches in a single season.
Chwalinska is the third player since 1990 to claim her first four career wins against top 50 opponents at the same tournament. Only Jennifer Capriati (Boca Raton 1990) and Talia Gibson (Indian Wells 2026) have matched that feat.
Chwalinska becomes the third Polish woman in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam singles final, joining Agnieszka Radwanska and Iga Swiatek.
On Saturday against Andreeva, Chwalinska will bid to become the first left-handed woman to win the title in Paris since Monica Seles in 1992
ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
