Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska reaches Roland Garros final, earns record prize

Polish tennis player Maja Chwalinska entered the 2026 French Open as a qualifier ranked No. 114 in the world. After winning three qualifying matches and five main‑draw matches, she became the surprise finalist in Paris, where she lost in straight sets to Russia’s Mirra Andreeva.

The run earned Chwalinska roughly €1.5 million, more than twice her career earnings before the tournament, and lifted her ranking 93 places to world No. 21. She said the three weeks in Paris were financially and emotionally stressful – she had struggled to pay for her hotel and had no sponsorship before the event. The prize money and media attention are expected to attract sponsors and give her direct entry to future tournaments, although she may still need to qualify for Wimbledon unless she receives a wildcard.

Chwalinska highlighted the narrow gap between players ranked around 100 and the elite, hoping her story will inspire others outside the top‑100. Her performance marks a career‑changing milestone for the 24‑year‑old from Miechów, Poland.