Andreeva defeats Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to win the French Open title
Then there are two, but certainly not the pairs we expected. At the age of nineteen, Mira Andreeva had advanced to her first grand slam final. In 2024reached the semi-finals on terre battue and last year the quarters.
The Russian phenom had an outstanding season on clay, winning WTA500 event in Linz, Austria (d. Potapova). In addition to claiming his second title of the season, he reached the finals in Stuttgart (l. Rybakina), the finals in Madrid (l. Kostyuk), and the quarters in Rome (l. Gauff). Andreeva, the 8The seed, dropped one set en route to the final while sending three players to defeat: Marie Bouzkova, Sorana Cirstea, and Marta Kostyuk.
Twenty-four-year-old southpaw Maja Chwalinska won three matches in qualifying to reach her first grand slam final. Currently ranked #114the native of Poland traveled a difficult and surprising road to the championship game.
© Alain JOCARD / AFP
He is the first Roland Garros finalist, the lowest-ranked player to reach a title match since compatriot Iga Swiatek. 2020 (#54), and the third woman to enter the final in their first draw. In addition, he is the third player to reach the first WTA-Level final at the major, joining Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open) and Venus Williams (1997 US Open). Before these two days, his best result in a slam had come 2022 when he reached the second round at Wimbledon.
With each victory in the battue of terre, his confidence grew. He ended the former world #4 and Roland Garros quarterfinalist, Qinwen Zheng, in addition to three seeded players: Elise Mertens, Anna Kalinskaya, and fellow southpaw, Diana Shnaider. Although she, too, dropped only one set in nine matches, Andreeva became her first opponent in ten.
With the roof open at Court Phillipe-Chatrier and the wind blowing 31mph, Chwalinska served first and opened with a double fault. Despite hitting four winners, including a stunning backhand drop shot, he faced three deuce points, three break points, and dropped serve.
Andreeva hit a good volley forehand but gave back the break with three unforced errors. Chwalinska opened the third with her second double fault and the previous two faults of the season 8the seed returned the break with two double faults.
Chwalinska hit two winners in a row and tied the break at love, while Andreeva made it three with two winners in a row, including an ace up the tee.
Chawlinska missed 3/6 first run again, with two consecutive unforced errors, discarded. Andreeva, who was working with the new balls, hit three outstanding winners, including a crosscourt backhand volley to tie the break 5-3. Chawlinska appeared exhausted as she worked to stay on set. She served two unforced errors and conceded when Andreeva crushed a cross-court backhand.
Andreeva served first and second and, with depth and conviction, was easily caught 15 while Chawlinska contributed four more unforced errors and discards. Andreeva faced three break points following two backhand errors, but held 3-0 with two amazing groundstroke winners.
Chawlinska made 3/4 he started working but slowed down following three consecutive winners from his opponent. Andreeva, with poise and purpose, hit two more winners, including a forehand volley to tie the break 5-0.
Chawlinska, serving to stay in the game, did 6/6 he first served and was caught 30 with a rare crosscourt backhand. Andreeva worked for the match but succumbed to the pressure. Although he came within two points of the title, he lost the performance with two consecutive front-end errors.
Chawlinska down 2-5she opened with a net forehand, faced match point three times, and conceded it when Andreeva hit a backhand final court. She is the youngest champion in the City of Lights since eighteen-year-old Monica Seles won. 1992. While enjoying her first grand slam title, receiving the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen, Andreeva considers the green grass of Wimbledon as the next challenge in her flourishing career.
