Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska has reached the French Open final in an unprecedented run at Roland Garros, completing a remarkable journey after overcoming severe depression and career-threatening injuries.
The 24-year-old dropped to the red clay in shock after winning her ninth consecutive match in Paris to secure a place in the championship decider.
She becomes the first qualifier in history to reach the women’s singles final at the tournament, and only the second to achieve the feat at any Grand Slam.
Battling back from the brink
Her extraordinary success arrives after a prolonged struggle on the lower-tier ITF circuits and significant off-court battles.
A first-round loss in Wimbledon qualifying in 2019 prompted a hiatus from the sport, as the former Australian Open junior finalist dealt with severe depression.
At her lowest point, the unseeded finalist admitted she associated tennis with immense pressure and prolonged periods of distress.
“I was struggling a lot and I thought that I just need to stay very strong, tough, and just keep practicing, but then I just couldn’t get out of bed anymore,” Chwalinska said.
“I needed to take a break, and I honestly didn’t know if I was going to come back or not.”
A steady return to the elite
The Polish player sought professional psychological support and spent time at her family home, using alternative sports like boxing to help reset her mindset.
She eventually returned to the court with renewed enthusiasm, successfully qualifying for Wimbledon in 2022 to record her first main-draw victory at a major.
However, a subsequent knee injury required surgery later that year, stalling her promising career trajectory once again.
Before arriving in the French capital this fortnight, the history-maker had never defeated a player ranked inside the world’s top 50.
Her extraordinary nine-match winning streak has now redefined her career, proving the immense depth of talent currently residing within the women’s game.
Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have secured their seventh consecutive French Open wheelchair doubles title with a dominant straight-sets victory in Paris.
The top-seeded pair defeated Spain’s Martin de la Puente and home favourite Stephane Houdet 6-2 6-3 to claim their 24th Grand Slam crown together.
Despite facing a partisan crowd backing the French veteran, the British duo produced a clinical performance on the clay.
They dictated proceedings throughout the match, hitting 29 winners to their opponents’ 14 and winning 55% of points on the French-Spanish pairing’s first serve.
Historic milestone on Parisian clay
The triumph carries extra significance as the wheelchair game celebrates a half-century since its inception.
“Tennis wins – 50 years of wheelchair tennis, to be on a court like this, having this sort of atmosphere, it’s an absolute pleasure and long may it continue.”
Alfie Hewett
The 26-year-old admitted the French tournament had initially been a challenging hurdle during the early days of their partnership.
His Scottish partner echoed these sentiments, acknowledging their continued evolution as a dominant force on the global circuit.
“We’ve been a team for a long time now but we are finding new ways to play and new ways to enjoy it.”
Gordon Reid
Singles championship match beckons
Alongside his doubles success, the Norfolk-born athlete remains in contention for further silverware after reaching his second successive singles final at Roland Garros.
The second seed overcame Argentine Gustavo Fernandez 7-5 6-4 to set up a blockbuster championship clash.
He will face top seed Tokito Oda, who advanced by defeating doubles runner-up De la Puente in a tight semi-final encounter.
The Japanese teenager is the three-time defending champion in Paris and has proved to be a formidable opponent, having won the past four major singles titles.
Searching for his first major individual victory since last year’s Australian Open, the British challenger aims to replicate his previous Parisian singles triumphs from 2017, 2020, and 2021.
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi has criticised Jannik Sinner’s preparation after the tournament favourite suffered a shock second-round defeat at the French Open due to heat exhaustion.
The Italian arrived in Paris on a 30-match winning streak but collapsed physically during his match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Despite leading 6-3 6-2 5-1, the recent clay-court conqueror began suffering from dizziness and severe cramping as temperatures soared to 32 degrees.
He subsequently lost 15 consecutive points, allowing the Argentine to complete an astonishing 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 comeback victory.
Agassi questions preparation over fitness
Speaking on TNT Sports, Agassi insisted there was “no excuse” for the overwhelming favourite to hit a physical wall so early in the contest.
“There’s a difference between being fit and being prepared. I have to point at a flaw in that kind of preparation, because there’s something you can do about that.”
The American tennis legend noted that while his younger counterpart works exceptionally hard, struggling after just one hour and 45 minutes indicates a specific failure in heat management.
Agassi specifically highlighted potential hydration issues, suggesting the player needs to seriously review his fluid intake protocols.
“Before I went out there in Australia and played three out of five in hot conditions, I’m doing 10, 12 litres of water, you have to force it. It’s better to have it in you and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
History of heat-related struggles
This latest collapse continues a worrying trend for the former Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome champion when competing in extreme temperatures.
He previously experienced significant physical difficulties against Eliot Spizzirri at the Australian Open earlier this year, before a timely roof closure allowed him to recover.
The Roland Garros exit is particularly bitter given his imperious form heading into the Parisian major.
Many pundits had tipped him to avenge his five-set defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, especially with the Spaniard absent from this year’s draw.
Alexander Zverev is closing in on a maiden grand slam title at the French Open, but the German’s progress continues to divide opinion due to his history of off-court legal controversies.
The second seed advanced smoothly through the draw following a straightforward quarter-final victory over Rafael Jodar.
Many observers consider the three-time grand slam finalist to be the most complete player remaining in the tournament.
However, the prospect of him lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires makes a significant section of the tennis world distinctly uncomfortable.
Legal scrutiny and settlements
In October 2023, a German court issued a penalty order and fined the world number two almost £400,000 for committing bodily harm against a former girlfriend.
He continued to compete on the ATP Tour while those legal proceedings rumbled on in his home country.
An out-of-court settlement was eventually reached in June 2024 during last year’s tournament at Roland-Garros.
The agreement meant the case was discontinued without any finding or admission of guilt.
Previous allegations and ATP response
The Olympic gold medallist has repeatedly and strenuously denied all allegations directed against him.
“Bullshit,” he previously stated when asked to describe the accusations.
He had previously faced separate accusations of domestic abuse from another former partner, Olga Sharypova, who alleged physical and emotional abuse between 2020 and 2021.
The ATP conducted a 15-month investigation into those claims but ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations.
Focus returns to the court
Despite being cleared by the governing body, the decision to appoint the controversial star to the Players Advisory Council in January 2024 drew heavy criticism.
Rain and sudden hailstorms have disrupted play at Roland-Garros throughout the week, even interrupting the player’s post-match interview following his quarter-final win.
Yet the prohibitive tournament favourite remains solely focused on shedding his unwanted tag as the best active player without a major championship.
He must now navigate the final stages of the Parisian clay-court event under an intense and unrelenting spotlight.
The prominent success of Eastern European players at the French Open has highlighted ongoing geopolitical divisions within tennis amid the conflict in Ukraine.
Half of the competitors in the women’s quarter-finals hailed from either Russia or Belarus.
They were joined by two Ukrainians, one Polish player and one Romanian in a draw heavily concentrated with regional talent.
Russian and Belarusian athletes continue to compete at Roland Garros under a neutral white flag.
Player solidarity and silence
The Paris major has been heavily dominated by the widening divide between competitors from the involved nations.
Tennis has faced unique geopolitical challenges since 2022, partly due to the high representation of players from these specific countries.
Seven athletes from both Russia and Ukraine currently feature in the top 100 rankings of the WTA Tour.
The sport’s inherently one-on-one nature further intensifies the public focus on individual matchups between these nations.
Calls for accountability
Ukrainian competitors have presented a united front while speaking openly about the impact of the conflict on their homeland.
Oleksandra Oliynykova recently described this collective stance among her compatriots as absolute solidarity.
Conversely, many Russian athletes have chosen to remain completely silent on the international situation.
Following her progression to the semi-finals, Marta Kostyuk heavily criticised the lack of vocal opposition from her peers.
They know what is going on. I do not know how you can sleep at night peacefully when you know that this is going on, and you have nothing to say about it.
– Marta Kostyuk
Fears of reprisal
Some competitors with family remaining in Russia have cited significant fears of government reprisals if they publicly condemn the state.
Kostyuk dismissed these concerns, pointing to individuals who have actively relocated their families and businesses.
The Ukrainian specifically highlighted Daria Kasatkina as an example of an athlete who has publicly opposed the war.
Kasatkina condemned the conflict and ultimately relocated despite alleged intimidation tactics directed at her family.
Marta Kostyuk has become the first Ukrainian woman to reach the French Open semi-finals, entering Thursday’s historic match against Mirra Andreeva on a 17-match winning streak on clay.
The 21-year-old arrives at the final four in spectacular form after securing recent tournament titles in Rouen and Madrid.
However, the journey to the pinnacle of a Grand Slam has been far from straightforward for the former teenage prodigy.
Overcoming the weight of early expectations
Bursting onto the global scene at just 15, the Kyiv-born athlete reached the third round of the Australian Open after qualifying for the main draw.
That sudden success brought immense pressure, leading to a near three-year wait before her next major tournament victory.
She struggled to progress past the fourth round of a major until finally breaking through to the quarter-finals in Melbourne earlier this year.
“I’m enjoying more, just creating points, dealing with challenges, learning how to navigate the difficult situations in the matches.”
The resurgent star added she is very happy with how she has been managing the pressures of elite competition recently.
A crucial change in coaching personnel
A significant turning point arrived last August when she transitioned away from being coached by her mother, former professional Talina Beiko.
Seeking to forge a new path, the world number 18 hired Polish former professional Sandra Zaniewska to help develop her mental resilience.
This partnership has fostered greater consistency on the court, blending tactical discipline with her natural acrobatic athleticism.
“She changed me so much as a person. We’ve both grown together in this working relationship. For sure, I definitely wouldn’t be here without her.”
Unmatched athleticism on the Parisian clay
The Ukrainian has always possessed exceptional physical agility, famously demonstrating a back handspring to celebrate her Madrid triumph.
Her exceptional lateral movement at Roland Garros this fortnight has repeatedly allowed her to retrieve seemingly impossible balls.
Now playing with freedom and tactical clarity, she stands just one victory away from a maiden Grand Slam final.
Matteo Berrettini has seen his French Open campaign end in heartbreak after a hip injury forced the Italian to retire during his quarter-final against compatriot Matteo Arnaldi.
The former world number six was trailing 5-2 in the second set, having already dropped the opener, when he called a premature halt to the contest.
He had previously taken a medical timeout but pulled up sharply while chasing down a ball in the final game of the match.
A disconsolate look washed over the 2021 Wimbledon finalist as he sat in his chair before embracing his opponent at the net.
A career plagued by physical setbacks
Physical issues have relentlessly disrupted the career of the powerful right-hander since his memorable run to the grass-court final at SW19.
He had missed the previous four editions of Roland Garros entirely because of persistent injury woes.
This latest setback follows earlier tournament withdrawals, including a mid-match retirement at the 2023 US Open and pull-outs in Madrid and Rome last season.
“It was really hard to retire because I thought that wasn’t the right thing, mostly because I have done it many times and I’m tired of retiring,” said Berrettini.
“I didn’t want the tournament to end like this.”
Arnaldi makes historic semi-final run
Despite the devastating conclusion, the currently 105th-ranked player remained determined to focus on the positives of reaching a seventh Grand Slam quarter-final.
“I have to take the good stuff that I did in this tournament, because a few weeks ago or a few days ago, it would have been crazy to think about me in the quarter-finals, and so I’ll try to go back home with a smile on my face.”
His advancement means Arnaldi, currently ranked 104th in the world, becomes the lowest-ranked male player to reach the singles semi-finals in Paris since Filip Dewulf in 1997.
The 25-year-old will now face 10th seed Flavio Cobolli on Friday for a coveted place in Sunday’s showpiece final.
“He did an amazing tournament. I am sorry for him and I hope he recovers because soon it is the grass and he is going to be very tough to play.”
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has crashed out of the French Open quarter-finals after a shocking collapse against 22-year-old Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.
The top seed was heavily favoured to claim her maiden title in Paris following the early exits of rivals Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina.
However, the Belarusian suffered an improbable defeat, losing 3-6 7-5 6-0 on Court Philippe-Chatrier despite holding a commanding lead.
Dramatic collapse from commanding position
The 28-year-old appeared to be cruising into the semi-finals when she led 6-3 4-1 with a double break in the second set.
Shnaider demonstrated remarkable resilience to battle back and level the contest against the overwhelming tournament favourite.
Sabalenka still had an opportunity to serve for the match at 5-4, but a flurry of unforced errors allowed her younger opponent to break back.
The rising star then claimed the final two games of the set to force an unexpected decider.
Shnaider completes incredible comeback
Momentum swung entirely in the direction of the underdog as the final set began.
A visibly frustrated Sabalenka faced immense pressure and had to save three early break points before finally losing her serve.
Shnaider ruthlessly pressed her advantage, racing through her service games and breaking the world number one repeatedly.
She ultimately delivered a final set bagel to complete one of the most astonishing upsets in recent Grand Slam history.