Contrasting Career Paths Lead to French Open Final
Mirra Andreeva, ranked eighth globally, faces Maja Chwalinska, who is ranked 114th, in the French Open final. Their career trajectories highlight a stark contrast.
Russian eighth seed Andreeva is a teenage prodigy who secured her first WTA Tour victory at age 15 in 2023 and reached the Wimbledon fourth round just two months later. Since then, winning a Grand Slam has seemed inevitable.
"I'm getting closer - I'm getting a little bit more mature with every match I play," said 19-year-old Andreeva.
In contrast, qualifier Chwalinska's journey to the Roland Garros final has been unpredictable. The 24-year-old Polish player has never gained direct entry into a Grand Slam main draw and had only qualified twice in 14 previous attempts.
Ranked 114th with limited prior success, Chwalinska's breakthrough exemplifies dedication and perseverance.
"I feel like I'm in the bubble. I don't know what's going on. I'm just very happy to be here," said Chwalinska, who began the tournament as a 500-1 outsider.
The Teenage Sensation Benefiting from Growing Maturity
Andreeva's achievements over the past two weeks are underscored by historical context. She is the third-youngest Roland Garros finalist this century, following 18-year-old Coco Gauff in 2022 and 17-year-old Kim Clijsters in 2001. She aims to become the youngest French Open champion since Monica Seles in 1992.
Born in Siberia and trained in France, Andreeva has been recognized for her talent since her 2023 Madrid Open breakthrough, where her fearlessness earned praise from Andy Murray.
Her progress accelerated after hiring former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez as her coach in 2024. Martinez noted from the start that Andreeva was destined for stardom.
'If I won then so can she' - The Wimbledon Champion Nurturing Andreeva
After reaching the French Open semi-finals two years ago, Andreeva made significant strides in 2025, winning two WTA 1000 titles and entering the world’s top five rankings.
Despite her rapid rise, Andreeva has exhibited moments of volatility on court. Incidents such as swiping balls toward the crowd and an outburst against home wildcard Lois Boisson in last year’s French Open quarter-final highlighted her youth.
However, her composed performance against Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk in Thursday’s semi-final, amid political tensions, demonstrated her growing maturity.
"At some points, I was listening [to Martinez], but at the same time sticking to what I had been doing," said Andreeva, who has yet to face a top-10 ranked opponent. "Now I feel like I completely trust what my team tells me and it's easier for me. Whatever they tell me, I will just do it."
The Qualifier Seamlessly Adapting to the Biggest Stage
Chwalinska has yet to defeat a player ranked inside the world’s top 20 but has eliminated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and former French Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari during this tournament.
Her remarkable run challenges Emma Raducanu’s distinction as the only qualifier to win a Grand Slam title, which the Briton achieved at the 2021 US Open. Should Chwalinska defeat Andreeva, her achievement would rival Raducanu’s unexpected major victory.
Most of Chwalinska’s career has been spent competing in lower-tier events, often struggling financially. After winning her second-round match in Paris, she worried about affording additional hotel nights. Without personal sponsors, a Polish company supporting six-time major champion Iga Swiatek, a childhood friend, covered her expenses.
"Let's not pretend someone expected it. I was outside the top 100 and now I'm in the final of a Grand Slam. It is hard to process," she said.
In 2021, Chwalinska took an indefinite break from tennis after losing in the first round of Wimbledon qualifying. She was battling depression that left her unable to get out of bed and uncertain about her return.
Four months later, she resumed playing, but her ascent has been gradual. She competed in small tournaments in Italian cities Brescia and Bari after losing in French Open qualifying last year. Now, she prepares to play before 15,000 spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier and millions watching worldwide.
"I always really enjoyed playing in front of people, even on the ITF circuit. I always enjoyed tournaments where people were interested," Chwalinska added. "The stage has changed, but honestly, I just want to win."
