Polish qualifier Chwalinska reaches French Open final against teenager Andreeva
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Maja Chwalinska, a 24-year-old Polish qualifier, reached the French Open singles final, becoming only the second qualifier to do so in the Open Era, after defeating Diana Shnaider 7-6 (4), 6-4.
- Chwalinska will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the final, with a chance to match Emma Raducanu's 2021 U.S. Open title run as a qualifier.
- Chwalinska has dropped only one set in nine matches and will see her ranking jump from No. 114 to No. 14 if she wins, along with a significant prize money increase from $864,030 to potentially $3.25 million.
- Andreeva, seeded No. 8, reached her first Grand Slam final by defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3, and expressed comfort and enjoyment of the French Open atmosphere in Paris.
- Tensions were noted on court as there was no handshake between Andreeva and Kostyuk post-match, amid ongoing concerns related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.