French Open 2026: Why Maja Chwalinska's tiny tattoo has provided meaning to her Roland Garros run
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Maja Chwalinska, a 24-year-old Polish qualifier, has reached the French Open final, one win away from becoming the first qualifier in the Open era to win the title.
- Chwalinska recently got a tattoo of the word "free" on her left hand, symbolizing her personal journey, though she has chosen not to explain its meaning publicly.
- Five years ago, Chwalinska took an indefinite break from tennis due to depression, but after seeking mental health support and engaging in running and boxing, she returned to the sport.
- Over the past year, she has improved significantly, winning nine consecutive matches at Roland Garros and defeating several top players, including Maria Sakkari and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.
- Chwalinska credits her success to learning to mentally separate tennis from personal stress and is now enjoying playing with freedom and joy, captivating fans in Paris.