The sorceress Maja started a new life. Let’s give her space and understanding

“The welcome at the airport is a time for fans. We do not plan to conduct interviews there” – I read on Monday morning, June 8, on the X website, in the entry of the Polish Tennis Association. I smiled to myself, knowing it wouldn’t work like that. And it will end exactly as it always ends.

This is not the fault of the media, which now wants to have at least a “piece” of Maja Chwalińska for themselves. Although I admit, following the plane’s route live on TVN24 was not something I had in mind after the Polish woman’s success at Roland Garros. However, around 9:25 a.m., a large message appeared on the information bar: Maja has landed!

“Pszczółka Maja” is a national treasure. Madness after the tournament in Paris

The Warsaw airport had one heroine. In the background “Pszczółka Maja” by Zbigniew Wodecki, lots of cameras, microphones and fans. Everyone was waiting for the tennis player, who was completely in her style – she showed up, spent a modest few minutes at the airport – and then continued on her way. However, with her smile she infected those present who wanted to see, at least for a moment, the player who gave Poland so much joy.

What’s next? Chwalińska officially ended her previous life with the tournament in Paris. Regardless of what happens next in the Polish woman’s career, returning to the extraordinary story of the qualifier who reached the final at Roland Garros 2026 will regularly come full circle. This is not surprising, after all, a 24-year-old girl was the first to achieve this feat in the history of the Parisian classic. Suffice it to say that Chwalińska is only the twelfth tennis player from Poland to reach the top 100 of the world ranking. The change after RG is groundbreaking – from 114th to 21st WTA place.

Staying with the numbers for a moment… Chwalińska had less than 25,000 followers on Instagram before she left for Paris. After returning to Poland, it will soon (as of Monday, June 8) exceed half a million. Media value of publications about a Polish woman? It exceeded PLN 65 million. Without planned image campaigns or other artificial creations. This shows that success, even in this global, online place, can be achieved from the court. Sorry. To win. But still a sporting result.

However, this sports result will now be the determinant. I wouldn’t say it’s the present, because after such a success, Chwalińska has a quiet time (although only in name) to breathe. Mainly financial and organizational, maybe apart from the stuffed box full of sponsorship offers. But in a few moments there will be a verification that a contemporary of “May the Magician” – Iga Świątek – has had to deal with for a long time. A friend of the finalist from this year’s RG, until recently called the Queen of Paris. Called because during this year’s edition, unfortunately, I didn’t come across this unique term so often. To put it mildly.

Being in a completely different place, the third racket in the world ranking, was exactly where Chwalińska is. In 2020, introducing ourselves to the world at the same Parisian meal. Świątek, however, won then, which she repeated three more times in Paris. And now she finds herself in Chwalińska’s shadow, which may be just… the best possible scenario for her. Especially with Wimbledon coming up.

I wrote about Chwalińska’s help for Świątek before the RG 2026 final in a separate comment, to which I refer in WPROST. However, the roles can quickly reverse. How? Chwalińska can now benefit greatly from her friend’s advice, especially since the smiles and joy will sooner or later turn into sour, fan-like faces and turning up the nose. Because she was a “Roland Garros finalist”, because she “played so well”, because she “should have done this and that”, etc.

There is no need to be offended, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a scenario as old as time. A reality that Świątek processes every time he makes a mistake. Although I would like to point out that packing people who understand tennis and the whole everyday sports life with couch/Sunday fans does not make much sense. But it can have a stimulating effect on the latter, louder ones.

Hence my small appeal, which could actually be summed up in one sentence: Let’s give Polish women space and understanding. After all, each of us writes our own life story. Chwalińska will not be the second Christmas. Maja will be Maja and Iga will be Iga. But I am convinced that since this dainty Sorceress has overcome so many adversities, we will still take a lot of consolation from her game.

Let’s just give Maja space and sufficient understanding for this.