Historic Qualifier Run
Polish Qualifier Maja Chwalinska Reaches French Open Final, Set to Face Russia's Andreeva
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Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva crushed Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 in just 76 minutes at the French Open semifinals on Wednesday — with no handshake and no joint photo at the net. NBC Sports reported that the traditional pre-match photo was replaced by separate shots, each player standing with two children on their own side of the net.
The result sets up a remarkable final on Saturday. Poland's Maja Chwalinska, a qualifier ranked No. 114, defeated Russia's Diana Shnaider 7-6 (4), 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam final. According to Opta, Chwalinska and Emma Raducanu — who won the 2021 US Open — are the only two qualifiers ever to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era.
Andreeva Dominates as War Tensions Shadow the Court
Andreeva, 19 and seeded eighth, was ruthless. Kostyuk committed 34 unforced errors as Andreeva cruised through in under 80 minutes. "I was so focused that I could see those hairs on the ball," Andreeva said, per WTA. She becomes the third-youngest Roland Garros finalist of the 21st century.
Kostyuk, seeded 15th, arrived on a 17-match clay-court winning streak. But she was beaten badly. After the loss, she spoke about the crowd's support. "I will never forget the ovations I received," she said, per The Guardian. "I will never believe anyone saying they have zero influence, because I experienced this myself."
No Handshake, Separate Photos: A Protocol Born From War
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian players have refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents. The ritual has become a recurring flash point at Grand Slams. At the 2024 Australian Open, organizers began showing messages on screens to warn crowds about the "no handshake" stance — to prevent booing.
Wednesday's match added a new wrinkle. Instead of the usual joint photo at the net, NBC Sports reported that each player posed separately with two children on her side of the court. It was a small but visible adjustment — a sign that tournaments are adapting to the geopolitical reality now baked into professional tennis.
Chwalinska's Cinderella Run Makes History in Paris
Chwalinska had to win three qualifying matches just to get into the main draw. She then beat four top-50 players in a row, including Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Her win over Shnaider on Wednesday was her ninth straight match in Paris. "I mean, it feels like a dream, honestly," she told Roland Garros Official Site. "I don't know what's going on."
Analysts at Sports Illustrated describe her style as built on "craft and guile" rather than power — looping left-handed topspin and well-timed drop shots. By reaching the final, she has already guaranteed herself at least €1.4 million ($1.625 million) in prize money. That is more than her entire career earnings before this tournament, which totaled $864,030.
What Is at Stake in Saturday's Final
Andreeva is projected to climb to around No. 6 in the world rankings regardless of Saturday's result, per Flashscore. A win would make her a Grand Slam champion at 19. Chwalinska, currently No. 114, would jump to No. 14 with a title — or No. 21 with a runner-up finish.
The winner takes home €2.8 million ($3.25 million) from a total prize pool of €61.7 million — a 9.53% increase from 2025. The final also carries a symbolic weight. Poland has been one of Ukraine's closest allies during the war, and Andreeva's presence in the final keeps the Russia-Ukraine tension alive at Roland Garros for one more day.
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