Mirra Andreeva Becomes First Born After 2005 to Win Major After Downing Maja Chwalinska in Roland Garros Final

Not many had predicted that a new champion would emerge victorious at Roland Garros at the start of the tournament. But since the first week, the clay-court has seen shock results. Top seeds one after the other exited.

And when Aryna Sabalenka lost to Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals, it was confirmed that, finally, a player who had never reached a Grand Slam final before would take home the title. So in the championship clash, qualifier Maja Chwalinska met teenager Mirra Andreeva.

On Saturday (June 6), the Philippe-Chatrier crowd saw Andreeva dismantle Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 and become a Grand Slam champion for the first time in her career.

Andreeva won a tight first game of the first set. Both players slowly began to increase their intensity. Chwalinska held her serve with a quick win in the fifth game, but Andreeva fought back to level the scores. After breaking the Pole to take a 4-3 lead, she held her serve in the following game.

Needing just one game to end the set in her favor, Andreeva raced to 40-0 and broke Chwalinska, taking the first set. Andreeva continued her winning ways in the next set as well as in the second game.

Chwalinska had the chance to break her serve at 40-30, but her shot went wide. And here the 19-year-old unleashed a backhand, and after an error from her opponent, the Russian ace took a 3-0 lead and quickly broke Chwalinska to take a 4-0 lead.

Well, Andreeva soon found herself on the verge of handing Chwalinska a bagel. But no, Andreeva had to wait. The 24-year-old held her serve and took the sixth game. After losing another game, Andreeva raced to 40-0 and needed just a game win to end the match in her favor. She sent an unreturned backhand and fell on the court, for Andreeva has now become a Grand Slam champion.

Maja Chwalinska reacts after losing the Roland Garros final to Mirra Andreeva

Mirra Andreeva had played in her career’s first Grand Slam semifinal here in 2024, losing to eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini. Also, she made the quarterfinals last year, losing to home favorite Lois Boisson.

But prior to this Roland Garros, Maja Chwalinska had never played the main draw rounds of this tournament. She, in fact, had qualified for just two main draw events of just two Majors before.

First of all, congrats to Mirra. You’re such an incredible player. You’re so young and talented; it’s so annoying. Congrats to you and your team for an amazing job. I wish you all the best for the future.

Maja Chwalinska said during the on-court interview

En route to the final, Chwalinska first ended 2024 Paris Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng‘s run in her main draw debut. She then went on to defeat Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari, Diane Parry, Anna Kalinskaya, and Diana Shnaider.

I’d like to thank all of you guys who came today. Not only today but these three weeks. Thank you for supporting me. I really felt your love. I’m very grateful. I wish you could see a better match today, but Mirra was just too good for me, so I guess it’s her fault. I tried my best. I’m sorry.

Maja Chwalinska added

Andreeva, en route to the win, beat Fiona Ferro, Marina Bassols Ribera, Marie Bouzkova, Jil Teichmann, Sorana Cirstea, and Marta Kostyuk. She has now won her third title of the season in her fourth final.

Andreeva lifted the Adelaide International and the Linz Open by defeating Victoria Mboko and Anastasia Potapova, respectively. In the Madrid Open final, she lost to Kostyuk. She is now a three-time singles champion on clay.

Also read: Venus Williams Backs Maja Chwalinska to Complete Fairytale Run at Roland Garros: “It’s Definitely a Cinderella Story”