Maja Chwalińska reaches Roland Garros final, seeks Wimbledon wild‑card

Polish 24‑year‑old Maja Chwalińska entered the 2026 Roland Garros as the world No. 114, qualified through the pre‑tournament stage and advanced to the championship match – the first Polish player ever to reach a Grand Slam final. She lost to Mirra Andriejewa but her run lifted her from outside the top 100 to No. 21 in the WTA rankings.

After landing at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport she was greeted by large crowds of fans and journalists. In the subsequent press conference she said, “Do końca turnieju to do mnie nie dochodziło, skupiałam się na każdym meczu” and added “Myślę, że kliknęło”. The media attention included a televised interview in which she stopped the applause with a hand gesture, saying the sudden fame felt “like a dream”.

Because the Wimbledon entry list closed before her French Open success, Chwalińska and the Polish Tennis Association have appealed for a “wild‑card” entry. She remarked, “Byłabym bardzo zaskoczona, gdyby udało się ją dostać, ale cuda się zdarzają”.

French tax officials will levy progressive income tax on her prize – estimates put the effective rate above 45 %, with additional solidarity levies, while a double‑tax treaty prevents a second charge in Poland.

Chwalińska also highlighted her partnership with sports psychologist Alicja Nowicka, noting they work “with a lot of freedom” and often communicate remotely while she travels on tour.