Andreeva conquers Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to win the French Open title
And then there were two, but certainly not the ones we expected. At the age of nineteen, Mira Andreeva had advanced to her first Grand Slam final. IN 2024she reached the penultimate round on terre battue and last year in the quarters.
The Russian phenom has had an incredible season on the ground, winning WTA500 event in Linz, Austria (d. Potapova). In addition to claiming her second title of the season, she reached the semifinals in Stuttgart (l. Rybakina), the final in Madrid (l. Kostyuk) and the quarters in Rome (l. Gauff). Andreeva, said 8The second team lost a set en route to the final, while sending three seeded players: Marie Bouzkova, Sorana Cirstea and Marta Kostyuk.
Maja Chwalinska, the twenty-four-year-old southpaw, won three matches in the qualifying tournament to reach her first Grand Slam final. currently ranked #114the Polish native traveled an arduous and stunning road to the championship match.
© Alain JOCARD / AFP
She is the first qualifier to reach the Roland Garros final, the lowest-ranked player to reach the title match since compatriot Iga Swiatek in 2020 (#54), and the third woman to make the final in their main draw debut. In addition, she is the third player to reach the top WTA-Level final in a major, teaming up with Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open) and Venus Williams (1997 US open). Before this two weeks, her best result in a slam was at 2022 when he reached the second round at Wimbledon.
With each victory on the terre battue, her confidence grew. She eliminated the former world #4 and Roland Garros quarter-finalist Qinwen Zheng, in addition to the top three players: Elise Mertens, Anna Kalinskaya and fellow southpaw Diana Shnaider. Although she had also dropped just one set in nine matches, Andreeva was her first top-ten opponent of her career.
With the roof open at Court Phillipe-Chatrier and winds blowing up to 31mph, Chwalinska served first and opened with a double fault. Although she hit four winners, including a stunner, she faced three deuce points, three break points and dropped serve.
Andreeva hit a fabulous forehand volley but got the break back with three unforced errors. Chwalinska opened the third with her second double fault and with two forehand faults, she dropped serve, while 8Fara got the break back with two double faults.
Chwalinska hit two straight winners and consolidated the break with a love hold, while Andreeva leveled at three with two straight winners, including an ace to the tee.
Chawlinska lost 3/6 serves first and, with two consecutive unforced errors, drops serve. Andreeva, serving with new balls, hit three incredible winners, including a backhand crossbar volley to consolidate the break for 5-3. Chawlinska looked depleted as she served to hold the set. She gave away two unforced errors and conceded them when Andreeva pressed a backhand down the court.
Andreeva served first in the second and, with depth and conviction, held easily 15 while Chawlinska served four additional unforced errors and dropped serve. Andreeva faced a triple break point after two backhand errors but held on 3-0 with two spectacular ground stroke winners.
Chawlinska did 3/4 first serves, but dropped serve after three straight winners from her opponent. Andreeva, with poise and purpose, hit two more winners, including a forehand volley to consolidate the break for 5-0.
Chawlinska, serving to stay in the match, did 6/6 first serves and is held for him 30 with an extraordinary transverse background. Andreeva served for the match but succumbed to the pressure. Although she came within two points of the title, she dropped serve with two consecutive forehand errors.
Chawlinska down 2-5opened with a forehand at the net, faced triple match point and conceded it when Andreeva hit a backhand forecourt. She is the youngest champion in the City of Lights since an eighteen-year-old Monica Seles triumphed in 1992. As she savors her first Grand Slam title, embracing the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen, Andreeva looks to the lush lawns of Wimbledon as the next challenge in her blossoming career.
