Maja Chwalińska is in the Roland Garros final! A Polish woman kicked out a Putin supporter

The context of matches with tennis players from Russia and Belarus is an issue that has been causing justified controversy since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. However, the women’s WTA and men’s ATP allowed representatives of these countries to play professionally as neutral athletes.

During Roland Garros 2026, Maja Chwalińska’s rival on Thursday, Diana Sznajder, was called… a propagandist. There were also worse words from Ukrainian Oleksandra Olijnikova. The tennis player recalled that Sznajder is a supporter of Vladimir Putin. And in 2025, she was even awarded the Order of Merit.

The Ukrainian also pointed out several examples from social media, where the activity of the RG 2026 semi-finalist may indicate – to put it mildly – a less than “neutral” approach towards the noble assumptions of the WTA and the Russian issue.

Roland Garros: Maja Chwalińska in the final! Diana Sznajder was dismissed

However, leaving political threads aside, Maja Chwalińska did something incredible. The tennis player, who came to Paris as number 114 in the WTA ranking, will play for the title on Saturday! Let us remind you that Chwalińska started playing on the Parisian clay on May 18 (!), in the first round of qualifications. After passing the three-stage fence, before the main ladder, the 24-year-old tennis player could enjoy… her debut on the tennis courts. Roland Garros.

Because it is a fact that Chwalińska managed to enter the main tournament in Paris only in the 2026 edition.

However, once the Pole had her chance, she followed through and began a dream that would last until the end of the tournament. Chwalińska won against: Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, Belgian Elise Mertens, Greek Maria Sakkari, sensational French Diane Parry and Russian Anna Kalinska.

The aforementioned Sznajder was waiting for the Pole in the semi-final. That is, a tennis player who was seeded number 25 in Paris. Interestingly, two left-handed players met on the center court in Paris. Additionally, they are delicate and can play tennis that is pleasing to the eye.

Although there is no denying it, Chwalińska is a magician who makes an increasing number of fans fall in love with her. Technical moves, the ability to predict, and the use of the entire court space – this is actually the specialty of the tennis player from Dąbrowa Górnicza, currently more associated with Bielsko-Biała.

What was this semi-final like? It was a tribute to tennis! Chwalińska started by winning the set after a tie-break, although there is no denying that the Pole was in big trouble with the score 5:5 and her service game when she defended break points. However, the Russian did not break her opponent, and this took revenge in the last part of the first set, which ended after… 84 minutes! Chwalińska won 7:4 and took a well-deserved lead.

In the second set, the Russian tried to increase the pace, which resulted in health problems. Sznajder asked for a short intervention from a physiotherapist, feeling the difficult battle with Chwalińska. The Pole hit almost every ball she received, which significantly extended most of the actions played, regardless of which player was serving. Let us add, however, that the Pole also had to use support, as the burden at this stage of the tournament is very high.

Although the set started with a break by the Polish woman (0:1), a moment later there was a return break (1:1), and the key was game number nine, in which Chwalińska won (5:4). The Pole did not let this go until the very end, thus sealing her well-deserved promotion to the final of the Grand Slam tournament!

The final of the women’s singles, i.e. the fight between Maja Chwalińska and Mirra Andriejewa, will take place next Saturday (i.e. June 6). Starting at 3:00 p.m.

It is worth recalling that Iga Świątek won four times at the Paris clay. The Pole won Grand Slam titles on the courts. Roland Garros in the following editions: 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. In this year’s edition, the best Polish tennis player reached the fourth round of the competition, where the later semi-finalist – Ukrainian Marta Kostiuk – turned out to be better.

RG 2026 matches are shown on Eurosport, on a total of four channels of the station. Additionally, the online competition is available via the HBO Max platform. The competition in the main tournament is scheduled from May 24 to June 7.