Maja Chwalińska helped Iga Świątek. A surprising clue at Roland Garros

Surprising mainly because of the possible scenarios before the start of the competition in Paris. Iga Świątek comes to the tennis courts. Roland Garros, as one of the biggest stars of this part of the season. Wherever and wherever, but especially on clay courts, the Polish tennis player feels exceptionally good.

And the capital of France? It was no coincidence that Świątek was called the Queen of Paris.

Roland Garros 2026 brought a breakthrough. Iga Świątek in a new role

This season, however, Świątek has undergone a major change due to the employment of a new coach. Francisco Roig, the man most closely associated with being on Rafael Nadal’s staff, turned out to be an idea for “something new” after a period of working with Wim Fissette. The Belgian had been Świątek’s coach since October 2024, but it must be admitted that the process of burnout of this relationship – apart from the sensational success in Wimbledon – was already very visible. The Pole opted for a Spanish school, which may bring results, but it will certainly take some time to see them.

In Paris, Świątek managed to reach the fourth round of the event. This is the worst result of a Polish woman on the courts of Roland Garros since 2021. And it was at this difficult moment that Maja Chwalińska appeared. Privately, Świątek’s friend, who achieved her success in life in Paris. This was known before the final, in fact it was also known before the semi-final, and in fact even a few matches earlier. After all, we are talking about a debutant in the main draw of the Grand Slam classic from the French capital.

In Saturday’s title match, Chwalińska will play her tenth(!) fight during RG 2026. The first one took place on May 18, at the opening of the three-stage qualifications. The last one is June 6, the fight for the Suzanne Lenglen Cup.

Świątek and Chwalińska switched roles. Although this is a temporary situation, because the former will soon start to see the need to defend the title in London on the horizon. The pressure, the (unchangeable) media interest, and carrying a heavy white and red burden on our backs will come back. However, Chwalińska’s life after RG 2026 will change on many levels. A gigantic promotion in the WTA ranking, along with the much-needed financial peace and “security” in the context of playing on large, in fact the largest, tennis stages. Chwalińska achieved all this diligently, helping Świątek at the same time. Because indeed, when the interest and pressure are divided between two people, taking into account the scale of success of “The Magician Maia” – as she is called due to her tennis style – the overall better one can breathe a little.

And this in the context of working with a Spanish coach, the challenge in London, or building your WTA Race (seasonal) and overall ranking, may be of great importance. All the more so because Chwalińska’s success has the dimension of another challenge titled: “I’m checking.” Once again, we can see that Polish tennis still depends mainly on outstanding individuals and “people from the shadows” who love this discipline. Such as Piotr Szczypka, Chwalińska’s manager, founder of the BKT Advantage Bielsko-Biała club. A man who was visibly moved after winning the semi-final in Paris did not hide the fact that he was already on the verge of breakdown – revealing the brutal realities.

Overall, the pressure is present not only when playing for the Grand Slam title, but also somewhere in the quiet, after another defeat, in the absence of funds or unanswered organizational questions. What can be hidden, the career break of the RG 2026 finalist is also a result of such, often very difficult reality.

An entry appeared on social media in which the same Szczypka was looking for a place for Chwalińska and the coach – in the context of the Australian Open 2023. Hard to believe today, but true at the time.

Now it seems that the situation will improve. Temporary, but still allowing you to skillfully use what Chwalińska won in Paris.

It is a success that is a beautiful story on many levels. And somehow I feel strangely calm that he will be remembered for many years. Let’s hope for Chwalińska’s next important successes, because we certainly need as many positive, smiling, sports heroines as possible.

Maja Chwalińska – Mirra Andriejewa. Where and when to watch the final?

When and where to watch the final with the participation of a Polish woman in the tournament on the tennis courts. Roland Garros?

Match Maja Chwalińska – Mirra Andriejewa on Saturday (i.e. June 6), from 3:00 p.m. Interestingly, the match will be shown on TVN and – as was the case throughout the tournament in Paris – on Eurosport and the HBO Max online platform.

It is worth recalling that from 2022 on the Paris clay, Polish singles players regularly play at least in the semi-finals of the Grand Slam event. This is mainly due to Iga Świątek, who won in Paris four times. After “introducing herself” to a wider audience during her debut success in 2020, the Pole won in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Last season, Świątek reached the semi-finals of the event, losing a three-set battle with Aryna Sabalenka.

Now Maja Chwalińska has taken over the baton from the best Polish tennis player.