Qualifier Chwalinska sets up final against Andreeva

Qualifier Maja Chwalinska is one win away from a fairytale French Open triumph after setting up a final showdown with Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.

The Polish world number 114, who had only ever won two matches at a Grand Slam before this tournament, continued her astonishing run at Roland Garros by beating 25th seed Diana Shnaider 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

Three weeks and nine matches after her French Open campaign began, Chwalinska dropped to the ground after firing in the 32nd and final winner of another scintillating display.

With that, she became the first qualifier in history to reach the women's singles final at Roland Garros, and the crowd chanted her name as she spoke in her post-match interview.

On Saturday, she will attempt to become only the second qualifier in the Open era to win a Grand Slam after Britain's Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open.

It would be a fitting conclusion to a French Open filled with spectacular shocks from the outset.

But, on the evidence of her dominant victory over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, the in-form Andreeva will provide the sternest test of her credentials to date.

A beaten semi-finalist in 2024, the 19-year-old was hugely impressive in a 6-1 6-3 victory that made her the third-youngest woman to reach the Roland Garros showpiece this century, after Coco Gauff and Kim Clijsters.

Should she prevail in her first major final, eighth seed Andreeva would become the third-youngest first-time Grand Slam champion this century, after Maria Sharapova and Raducanu.

Less than five years ago, Chwalinska was considering quitting tennis for good.

The Pole has credited the support of the people around her - and the openness of fellow players such as Naomi Osaka in speaking about their mental health - in helping her gradual return to the tennis court as she struggled with depression.

Having not won a Grand Slam main-draw match since Wimbledon in 2022, and falling in 12 of her 14 qualifying attempts, Chwalinska said after her quarter-final win over Anna Kalinskaya that her goal in Paris was simply to make the main draw.

It is a mystery to her as much as anyone how she now finds herself on a nine-match winning streak on the Parisian clay, having dropped just one set along the way.

That was against former world number three Maria Sakkari, while Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and a third top-25 seed, Elise Mertens, were also unable to deny the unflinching underdog.

"It's like a dream. Honestly, I don't know what is going on. I don't know what to say, I'm sorry," Chwalinska told the crowd.

"It is so challenging to play against the best players in the world day by day. It is a Grand Slam, so you have to give your all and more - I am not complaining at all!"

Perhaps even more remarkably, Chwalinska has not only handled the pressure of competing on one of the sport's grandest stages - she thrives on it.

The Pole has played with infectious freedom and joyful creativity, further endearing her to a Roland Garros crowd who on Thursday evening willed her on in pursuit of a once unthinkable dream.

But Chwalinska also proved her mettle against Shnaider, conqueror of world number one Aryna Sabalenka, recovering from 4-2 down in the first set tie-break and striking in the ninth game of the second before serving out victory untroubled.

While her aim for the year was to break the world's top 100, she is now projected to rise to 21st – and could climb 100 places if she lifts the trophy.

She is also guaranteed to leave with prize money amounting to £1.2m, rising to £2.4m with victory, having arrived with total career earnings of £642,400 only 17 days ago.

Andreeva may only be at the start of her career but she has long been tipped for Grand Slam success, with this her second semi-final appearance at Roland Garros.

On the first in 2024, a 17-year-old Andreeva, then the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since Martina Hingis at the 1997 US Open, was visibly emotional as the match against Jasmine Paolini ran away from her.

This, in contrast, was a performance marked by maturity.

"I feel like two years ago I didn't believe that I'm playing in the semi-finals," said Andreeva.

"That year Jasmine just killed me on the court. Now I feel like I'm getting closer, older, a little bit more mature every match I play."

Despite the blustery conditions, Andreeva was solid from the baseline and stubborn in defence - committing far fewer unforced errors (22) than her opponent (34), who was unable to hit the heights of her emotional all-Ukrainian quarter-final against Elina Svitolina.

Andreeva, the player with the most wins on tour (35) and on clay (21) this year, withstood break points in her opening service game as she raced into a 4-0 lead - and might have won the set sooner had Kostyuk not escaped five break points in the fifth game.

Even when Kostyuk, heavily favoured by the crowd, briefly threatened a fightback by breaking back in the second set, Andreeva reset and won back-to-back games to close out the match after 76 minutes.

Like Chwalinska, Andreeva has dropped only one set across her six victories so far. Between her superior ranking and the nature of this performance, she will walk out as the favourite on Saturday.