Chwalinska stuns Kalinskaya 7-6, 6-3 to reach maiden French Open semis
Synopsis
A World No. 114 qualifier just broke into the Roland Garros final four. Maja Chwalinska's 7-6(3), 6-3 dismantling of No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya makes her only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach a French Open women's singles semi-final — and one win away from a feat no qualifier has ever achieved: a Paris final.
Key Takeaways
Maja Chwalinska beat Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 at the French Open on 3 June .
114 , she becomes only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Roland Garros women's singles semi-final after Nadia Podoroska (2020) .
She converted 7 of 8 break points and won 82 points to Kalinskaya's 69 .
Chwalinska next faces the winner of Aryna Sabalenka vs Diana Shnaider on Thursday.
It was her eighth win at Roland Garros this year, counting qualifying rounds.
Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska produced the upset of the tournament at the French Open on 3 June, downing No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to storm into her first Grand Slam semi-final. Ranked World No. 114, the 24-year-old became only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros women's singles last four.
How the match unfolded
Chwalinska dropped the opening game but stitched together back-to-back breaks to surge ahead 5-1 in the first set. Kalinskaya clawed back four straight games to force a tie-break, only for the Pole to dominate the breaker 7-3.
The second set offered the Russian no respite. Chwalinska tightened her returning game and ran out a 6-3 winner, sealing victory in straight sets.
Numbers behind the upset
The Polish qualifier converted a remarkable seven of eight break points, against Kalinskaya's five from 11. She also outscored her higher-ranked opponent 82 points to 69, claiming 43 receiving points in a contest defined by relentless pressure on the Russian's serve.
Kalinskaya struck the only two aces of the match but undid herself with six double faults, allowing Chwalinska to stay locked in every game.
A historic Roland Garros run
This was Chwalinska's eighth win at Roland Garros this year, counting her qualifying-round matches. She has never been ranked higher than No. 113 in her career, making her surge through the draw one of the most improbable in recent French Open memory.
She joins Nadia Podoroska, who reached the same stage in 2020, as the only qualifiers in the Open Era to make the Roland Garros women's singles semi-finals. No qualifier has ever reached the French Open final in the Open Era — a milestone Chwalinska now sits one win away from.
What's next
Chwalinska will face the winner of the quarter-final between World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider on Thursday for a place in the final. Whatever the result, her Paris fortnight has already rewritten her career arc — and the projected ranking jump will lift her into the WTA top tier for the first time.
Point of View
Where seedings offer little protection on slow surfaces. Podoroska's 2020 run promised a breakthrough that never quite came; the harder test for Chwalinska begins after Paris, when the tour moves on and the ranking points have to be defended.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maja Chwalinska and how did she reach the French Open semi-final?
Maja Chwalinska is a 24-year-old Polish tennis player ranked World No. 114 who entered the 2025 French Open as a qualifier. She beat No. 22 seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6(3), 6-3 in the quarter-final on 3 June to reach her maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
Why is Chwalinska's run historic?
She is only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros women's singles semi-finals, after Argentina's Nadia Podoroska in 2020. No qualifier has ever reached a French Open women's singles final in the Open Era.
Who will Chwalinska face in the French Open semi-final?
She will play the winner of the quarter-final between World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider. The semi-final is scheduled for Thursday.
What were the key statistics from the Chwalinska vs Kalinskaya match?
Chwalinska converted seven of eight break-point chances against Kalinskaya's five of 11 and won 82 total points to her opponent's 69. Kalinskaya hit the only two aces of the match but committed six double faults.
