Who is Maja Chwalinska? World No. 114 who is making headlines with her stunning French Open 2026 semi-final run

Maja Chwalinska has become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 French Open. The Polish qualifier, ranked No. 114 in the world before the tournament, reached her first Grand Slam semi-final after winning eight matches in a row at Roland-Garros. Her remarkable journey includes three victories in qualifying and five wins in the main draw. With her latest success, Chwalinska became only the second woman in French Open history to reach the semi-finals after coming through qualifying, following Nadia Podoroska’s achievement in 2020.The 24-year-old is now the last Polish player left in the tournament. Her run has surprised many tennis fans because she had won only one Grand Slam main-draw match before arriving in Paris. Chwalinska has defeated several higher-ranked opponents during her dream campaign and is now guaranteed to climb into the world’s top 50. Her breakthrough has drawn comparisons with Emma Raducanu’s famous run from qualifying to the 2021 US Open title.Born in Miechów near Krakow, Maja Chwalinska was a successful junior doubles player and once partnered fellow Pole Iga Swiatek. While Swiatek went on to become a multiple Grand Slam champion, Chwalinska’s path was far more difficult.In 2021, after losing in Wimbledon qualifying, she stepped away from tennis for several months while dealing with depression. At the time, she admitted that the sport had become emotionally exhausting and that she struggled to separate her identity from her results on the court.After returning home and receiving professional support, she slowly rebuilt her confidence and enjoyment of the game. Chwalinska said that she learned not to judge herself solely by wins and losses. She said taking time away helped her understand that she was more than just a tennis player and allowed her to find a healthier balance in life.Her improvement has been clear in Paris. Before this tournament, she had never beaten a top-50 player. Now she has recorded victories over Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari and Anna Kalinskaya. Most of those wins came in straight sets.Standing 5-foot-5, Chwalinska relies on variety rather than power. The left-hander uses slices, drop shots and high-spinning balls to disrupt opponents’ rhythm. She has often said that because she lacks the physical strength of many players on tour, she must win points through creativity and smart tactics.After defeating Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals, Chwalinska admitted she was still trying to process her incredible run. She said every match in Paris had felt unbelievable and that she was enjoying every moment of the journey. She will now face either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or Diana Shnaider for a place in the French Open final.