Qualifier Maja Chwalińska Reaches French Open Final
Polish player Maja Chwalińska, ranked 114th in the world, just became the lowest-ranked French Open finalist ever after winning nine straight matches. The 24-year-old who once couldn't get out of bed due to depression has already earned nearly double her career prize money in one tournament.
A tennis player who took a mental health break because she felt "lifeless" just made history at one of the sport's biggest stages.
Maja Chwalińska entered the French Open ranked 114th in the world and had to win three qualifying matches just to make the main draw. Two weeks later, the 24-year-old from Poland is in the final after winning nine consecutive matches, becoming the lowest-ranked French Open finalist in the modern era.
The journey to Paris wasn't easy. Chwalińska dealt with injuries including knee surgery in 2022 and a period of severe depression that forced her to step away from tennis. "I just couldn't get out of bed anymore. I was just lifeless, to be honest," she said in her press conference. "I honestly didn't know if I was going to come back or not."
She did come back, and her first Grand Slam victory came at Wimbledon in 2020 after her hiatus. Before this tournament, she'd never made it past the second round of a major and spent most of her time competing one level below the main professional tour.
In Paris, everything changed. Chwalińska knocked out Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, former semifinalist Maria Sakkari, and top seed slayer Diana Shnaider. Her tricky game, full of slices and drop shots developed because she's only 5 feet 5 inches tall, confused opponents who'd never faced her before.
The financial impact is staggering. Before the French Open, Chwalińska had earned $864,030 in her entire career. This single tournament has already netted her $1,624,000, nearly doubling her career earnings. She was so unprepared for a long run that she worried about paying for a hotel until a Polish sponsor stepped in to help.
Why This Inspires
Chwalińska's composure stands out most. She limits her phone time to one celebratory post per victory, then puts it away. She hasn't let the pressure of playing on tennis's biggest stages shake her confidence, even though she'd never beaten a top 50 player before arriving in Paris.
Her former doubles partner from junior tennis? Four-time French Open champion Iga Świątek, who was knocked out in the fourth round this year. Poland still has representation in the final, just from an unexpected source.
"I'm just very proud that I stayed composed," Chwalińska said. "I'm happy that I came back."
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Based on reporting by Google News - Sports
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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