Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska (24), world number 114, continued her surprising run at Roland Garros, beating Diana Schneider 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Thursday to reach her first Grand Slam final. In the last act, she will meet the Russian Mirra Andreeva (19 years old, 8 WTA).
After 19-year-old Andreeva got past Ukraine's Marta Kostiuk in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-3, it was Chwalinska's turn to shine under the roof of the Philippe-Chatrier arena, Reuters notes.
Maja Chwalinska is the first player from the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros final coming from the qualifiers.
The other player from the Open Era who contested a Grand Slam final coming from the qualifications was Emma Răducanu, at the US Open 2021, a tournament she also won.
Mirra Andreeva, the opponent in the final
Russian tennis player Mirra Andreeva, world No. 8, was the first Grand Slam finalist at Roland Garros after she emphatically defeated Ukraine's Marta Kostiuk, world No. 15, 6-1, 6-3 after one hour and 16 minutes on Thursday.
Mirra Andreeva, who is 19 years old, eliminated the Romanian Sorana Cîrstea in the quarterfinals (6-0, 6-3). Andreeva, who was a semi-finalist in Paris in 2024, will be playing in her first Grand Slam final.
Andreeva also became the first player born after 2004 to reach a Grand Slam final, according to the BBC.
