Iga Swiatek Proud of Maja Chwalinska’s Career Breakthrough at Roland Garros

World No. 3 Iga Swiatek offered high praise and deep perspective following her childhood friend Maja Chwalinska’s historic run to the French Open final, where the Polish qualifier was ultimately defeated by rising star Mirra Andreeva. Despite the straight-sets loss in the championship match, Swiatek highlighted the profound emotional and professional growth that comes with competing on tennis’s grandest stage.

The extraordinary breakthrough by the 24-year-old qualifier captured the sports world’s attention, transforming Chwalinska from a player struggling to break into the top 100 to a Grand Slam finalist. Speaking to Sportowefakty, Swiatek expressed immense pride in her lifelong friend’s accomplishments on the clay courts of Paris.

I’m so glad Maja reached the final and defeated top players. She had the opportunity to experience all the emotions that come with being a Grand Slam player, which is completely different compared to other tournaments.

Iga Swiatek said on Sportowefakty

Despite missing out on the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup, the life-changing fortnight ensures that Chwalinska will no longer have to worry about court time or hotel bills. Her runner-up finish secures a hefty €1.4 million payout and catapults her world ranking up a staggering 93 positions to a career-high No. 21.

With the grass-court season quickly approaching, Chwalinska has firmly established herself as a dangerous floater in any draw. Having already reached the second round at Wimbledon in 2022, her newly elevated ranking guarantees her direct entry into future Grand Slam main draws, setting up an exciting summer where she can look to replicate her Parisian magic on the lawns of London.

A Fairytale Run From the Qualifiers to Philippe-Chatrier

Entering Roland Garros ranked No. 114 in the world, Maja Chwalinska had to battle through three grueling rounds of qualifying just to earn a spot in the main draw. Once there, the left-handed variety-maker defied expectations by knocking out seasoned tour veterans, including No. 23 seed Diana Shnaider in the semifinals and former top-10 mainstay Maria Sakkari earlier in the fortnight.

Her run finally came to an end on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva secured a 6-3, 6-2 victory to claim her own maiden Grand Slam trophy. The bond between Swiatek and Chwalinska stretches back to their days as 10-year-old juniors touring Poland’s domestic circuits.

They famously shared the court as doubles partners, reaching the girls’ doubles final at the 2017 Australian Open. While Swiatek’s career skyrocketed to global superstardom and multiple world titles, Chwalinska endured a much tougher path, navigating severe mental health struggles, injuries, and financial burdens that nearly forced her away from the sport entirely.

From Financial Hardship to Tennis Center Stage

During her emotional stay in Paris, Chwalinska revealed the harsh realities of life on the lower tiers of the professional circuit. Following her third-round upset over Sakkari, she admitted in a post-match interview that she initially struggled to secure enough funds for her hotel stay, a problem that was quickly resolved when Polish sponsor Oshee stepped in to provide financial backing.

The tennis community rallied heavily behind the unheralded underdog. Legend Andre Agassi, who spent the fortnight working as an analyst in Paris, was spotted comforting Chwalinska after the final.

The American reminded her that reaching a major final as a qualifier is one of the rarest and most difficult feats in modern athletics. Agassi later featured the Polish star prominently in a collection of his favorite memories from the tournament on social media.

Chwalinska’s tactical, touch-based game offered a nostalgic contrast to the heavy baseline power hitting that dominates the modern WTA Tour. By navigating her way through nine matches over a three-week span, she became the first female qualifier to reach the Roland Garros final in the Open Era, drawing stylistic comparisons to Emma Raducanu’s miraculous US Open title run in 2021.