Maja Chwalinska, Roland Garros' surprise: From quitting tennis due to depression to becoming a semifinalist

Maja Chwalinska, a 24-year-old Polish tennis player ranked 114th in the world, has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the French Open, reaching the semifinals. This remarkable run comes after a period where she battled depression and faced a challenging professional career.

Chwalinska, a left-handed player known for her technical skills and drop shots, secured her spot in the semifinals by defeating Russia's Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. This victory marks her most significant achievement at a Grand Slam tournament, having previously only won two clay-court matches at the major circuit level.

Her journey to the semifinals is particularly noteworthy as she came through the qualifying rounds. She now faces another surprise semifinalist, Russia's Diana Shnaider, who notably eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka. The other semifinal will be contested between Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Russia's Mirra Andreeva, guaranteeing a new Grand Slam champion.

Chwalinska's story is one of resilience, drawing inspiration from players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Her success echoes that of Nadia Podoroska, who also reached the French Open semifinals from the qualifying rounds in 2020. Chwalinska's previous junior success included reaching a doubles final at the Australian Open in 2017 alongside Iga Swiatek.