Chwalinska: "I hope my story inspires other players outside the top100"

Streaming ATP Stuttgart live tennis

🎾 Mert Alkaya vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

The fairy tale of Maja Chwalinska came to a halt this Saturday in a Roland Garros final where she was never able to match Mirra Andreeva. The Polish player bid farewell to Paris with an emotional speech.

It's impossible not to be moved by such a journey. From the qualifying rounds to the grand final, coming just one step shy of conquering Roland Garros and breaking into the top 15. Let's remember that Maja Chwalinska was ranked #114 in the world just three weeks ago and had earned $864,000 in her professional career. Today, she couldn't find the target against Mirra Andreeva, but next Monday, she will see her name among the top 25 in the rankings and her bank account boosted with over two million euros. Paris has brought out the best of her racket, although today she had to accept that even Cinderella had to wake up from the dream when midnight struck. In her final press conference, the Polish player reflected on this entire adventure.

Maja Chwalinska reflects on her Roland Garros 2026 campaign

“It's been three unforgettable weeks for me, a wonderful time. I will never forget these three weeks, that's for sure. Today was very tough; Mirra was a much better player today and deserved to win, but I am proud of my effort. I obviously gave it my all, and I believe I can be proud of myself.”

How will your life change after this tournament?

"I guess I'll see soon. It will definitely be different, but I think and hope I can adapt. I will continue to work hard, as I am doing now. I will give my all to improve every day, and we'll see what the results will be. I am very grateful for this moment, but it's already in the past. Now I need to stay present and give my best to be a better player each day. I feel grounded, surrounded by good people, I know what my priorities are, so I will focus on them.”

Maja Chwalinska's surprising statement after Roland Garros

“Honestly, I didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis, which is a bit strange. I feel I gained a lot of confidence because I had never really played against such highly ranked players before; it was the first time I faced them, so I definitely gained a lot of confidence. I will keep working hard like I am now; I will give my all to continue and become a better player. I know many great players who are outside the top 100, and the difference is very small nowadays. I feel like many pieces have to fit. There are many great players, and I wish them the best. I hope my story these days has been inspiring for them, maybe I will see them soon in the top 50.”

Mandatory break until Wimbledon

“In recent years, I have found it hard to play on grass, honestly, but I used to love it before. I feel I can use a lot of touch and slices; I move quite well on the court and anticipate well. Plus, it's always exciting because the grass season is very short. We'll see, but I am ready for the challenge. For now, I'm not going to play anything before Wimbledon for sure; I need time to recharge my batteries. Even before Roland Garros, I said I needed a vacation after the tournament, so I have been thinking about it for three weeks now, although, of course, I wanted to be here. I need time to regain energy, and this year I´m only playing Wimbledon.”

Could Maja Chwalinska receive a wildcard for Wimbledon?

“That would be the news of the century. Honestly, I don't expect it, but we'll see. I will take it as a challenge; it's a new surface. I don't have much time, but I will give my all, and we'll see what happens, but I am excited. Grass is always a pleasant change.”

Fatigue is not an excuse

“Obviously, I was tired, but it's normal; I think anyone would be. We play a lot of matches, but all credit to Mirra because she is an incredible player, very solid. She handled the conditions much better than I did, so she deserved to win completely today. I did everything I had been doing for the past three weeks, but there were definitely nerves. I was very stressed, even though, honestly, I was nervous before every match. I couldn’t eat for the last three weeks; my coaches were eating pizza, and I was saying: 'No'. So now I'm excited to finish the tournament and maybe regain the joy of eating (laughs).”

Chwalinska explains her rapid leap in performance

“It was a sudden huge leap, but it's actually 18 years of hard work, patience, and perseverance. I had to go through a lot to be in this place and position. Life is strange sometimes; you just have to keep doing your thing and believe that one day everything will fall into place. I am happy that it happened. For example, Mirra was very mentally strong today, very smart on the court. She is only 19, but she seems very experienced. If I want to climb the rankings, I will have to figure out what it takes to be there.”

Maja Chwalinska emphasizes the importance of mental strength in tennis

“I feel that tennis is a very tough sport, very individual. We start very young, practically as children and teenagers. People expect us to behave like adults when we're still kids. The pressure is immense because in every match, we are exposed. People can judge us however they want, and nowadays, anyone can write anything on the internet. It's very difficult, and you have to protect yourself as best as you can.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Chwalinska: “Espero que mi historia inspire a otras jugadoras de fuera del top100”