PARIS, June 3 – Poland’s Maja Chwalinska is experiencing a career breakthrough at the French Open, where the 24-year-old has become only the second qualifier in the Open era to advance to the tournament’s semifinals. The world-ranked 113th player is celebrating her decision to return to professional tennis following a mental health hiatus.
Chwalinska’s path to the semifinals required her to win three qualifying matches in Paris, and she has lost just one set during her remarkable eight-match journey to the final four. Her latest victory came Wednesday with a 7-6(3) 6-3 triumph over Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.
The Polish player took a significant career break in 2021 when she publicly revealed her battle with depression that had lasted more than 18 months.
“I pushed at the beginning. I thought that I just need to stay very strong, tough, and just keep practicing,” Chwalinska explained to reporters following Wednesday’s victory.
“But then I just couldn’t get out of bed anymore. I was just lifeless, to be honest. I knew that I need to take a break, because otherwise I’m just not able to live.”
“I honestly didn’t know if I’m gonna come back or not. After, like, months, I decided to come back. I needed to figure out a few things in my head, I would say. And I came back. I’m happy that I did.”
Prior to this tournament, Chwalinska had never advanced beyond the second round at any Grand Slam event. When asked about managing her unprecedented success, she described her strategy for handling the pressure.
“I’m not into social media, I would say, I feel like it would be too much for me at this moment,” she revealed.
“So that’s one of the things that I’m doing now is just I post, and then I quit.”
“Other than that, I have great people around me, that are with me for many, many, many years. So I can trust them and tell them anything that I feel.”
During their junior careers, Chwalinska competed alongside fellow Polish player Iga Swiatek. The duo helped Poland capture the European Under-14 Girls’ Team Championships in 2015 and claimed the European Junior doubles championship together.
The pair also reached the Australian Open girls’ doubles final in 2017, but their professional careers have followed dramatically different trajectories. Swiatek has captured six Grand Slam titles, including four French Open championships.
While Swiatek was eliminated in the fourth round this year, Chwalinska’s prize money from her current Paris run has already exceeded her entire career earnings. However, she’s postponing any celebration until after the tournament concludes.
“I feel like I just, for some reason, don’t process it,” she explained.
“I’m just focusing on every single match. I honestly don’t feel like it’s a huge, huge moment for me. But definitely after the tournament finishes, I will have time to be grateful for what happened and process it as well.”
Chwalinska’s semifinal opponent will be another Russian player, 25th seed Diana Shnaider, who defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Wednesday’s other quarterfinal match.
