Roland-Garros: 'I am not sponsored,' says surprising finalist Chwalinska

Maja Chwalinska is making waves at Roland-Garros, not just as a competitor but as a sensational qualifier who has defied expectations to reach the final. The 24-year-old Polish player, who started the tournament ranked outside the top 100, secured her spot in the final by defeating Russia's Diana Shnaider. This remarkable achievement places her in elite company, as she is only the second woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final after starting from qualifying, a feat previously accomplished by Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open.

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I feel like I'm in a bubble, I would say. I don't know what's happening. I'm just very happy to be here. Yes, I'm just trying to focus on each match, give everything I have. But let's not pretend I expected it.

Reflecting on her unexpected journey, Chwalinska described her current state as being "in a bubble." She expressed immense happiness and surprise at her success, admitting she did not anticipate reaching this stage. "I was under the shock. There was joy, surprise, so many emotions... I also felt completely overwhelmed," she shared during a press conference. Despite the heightened attention, Chwalinska insists her approach to the game remains unchanged. "I'm just playing tennis. The stage has just changed, but honestly, I'm just playing tennis and training, and for me, that doesn't change. I just want to win whatever I play, whatever the match."

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I was under the shock. There was joy, surprise, so many emotions... I felt also completely overwhelmed. I was outside the top 100, and now I'm in a Grand Slam final! I'm just playing tennis. The stage has just changed, but honestly, I'm just playing tennis and training, and for me, that doesn't change. I want to just win whatever I play, whatever the match.

Her previous best performance on the main tour was a quarterfinal appearance at a WTA 250 event in Cluj in April. Now, she is set to compete in her first major final. Chwalinska acknowledged that her ranking will improve, granting her access to more high-level tournaments. Her immediate plan involves rest and enjoying her passion for tennis, even admitting to watching matches, a habit stemming from her admiration for Roger Federer, whom she called her "number one fan."

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My coaches are superstitious. They eat pizza every day for three weeks. They will gain a lot of weight. It's going to be terrible. But if they want, I can't really say no. Maybe it helps. I don't know. I don't go with them. I don't eat pizza at home.

Interestingly, Chwalinska revealed she is not sponsored, though she anticipates that will change soon. She did, however, thank the company Oshee for helping to cover her hotel expenses during the tournament. The financial implications of her success are substantial; her qualification for the final guarantees her 1.4 million euros, a sum that significantly surpasses her career prize money of 743,600 euros. Her coaches, meanwhile, are adhering to a superstitious routine of eating pizza daily for three weeks, a practice Chwalinska humorously noted might lead to weight gain but which she tolerates for their belief that it helps.

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I'm not sponsored. That won't be long... I would like to thank 'Oshee' for helping me cover my hotel expenses for these three weeks.