tamil yogi
Contrasting paths, same destination – who will win French Open final?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mirra Andreeva (left) is eighth in the world rankings, while opponent Maja Chwalinska is down at 114ByJonathan Jurejko
The career trajectories of French Open finalists Mirra Andreeva and Maja Chwalinska could not be more contrasting.
Russian eighth seed Andreeva is a teenage sensation who earned her first WTA Tour win as a 15-year-old in 2023, reaching the Wimbledon fourth round just two months later.
Becoming a Grand Slam champion has felt like a question of when, and not if, ever since.
“I’m getting closer – I’m getting a little bit more mature with every match I play,” mentioned 19-year-old Andreeva.
Qualifier Chwalinska’s path to Saturday’s showpiece at Roland Garros has been less predictable.
The 24-year-old from Poland has never received direct entry into the main draw of a major and had only come through Grand Slam qualifying in two of her previous 14 attempts.
With little pedigree, 114th-ranked Chwalinska’s breakthrough is a lesson in what can be achieved through 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,” mentioned Chwalinska, who was a 500-1 outsider at the start of the tournament.
What Andreeva has achieved over the past fortnight is underlined by the historical statistics.
The third-youngest Roland Garros finalist this century behind 18-year-old Coco Gauff in 2022 and 17-year-old Kim Clijsters in 2001, Andreeva is bidding to become the youngest French Open champion since Monica Seles in 1992.
Born in Siberia and trained in France, Andreeva has been touted for greatness since her breakthrough at the 2023 Madrid Open – where her talent and fearlessness led to praise from Andy Murray.
Her progress has accelerated since appointing former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez as her coach in 2024.
Spain’s Martinez says it was clear from the moment she started working with Andreeva that she was a star in the making.
After reaching the French Open semi-finals two years ago, Andreeva continued to make great strides in 2025, winning two WTA 1000 titles and cracking the world’s top five.
A tempestuous streak on the court has, however, served as a reminder of her tender age.
Some of her behaviour – notably swiping away balls towards the crowd – has come close to crossing the line and she combusted against home wildcard Lois Boisson in a febrile French Open quarter-final last year.
But the calm manner in which she powered past Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk in Thursday’s semi-finals – a match played against a backdrop of political tension – was a sign of her increasing maturity.
“At some points, I was listening [to Martinez], but at the same time sticking to what I had been doing,” mentioned Andreeva, who has not faced 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.”
Image source, Getty ImagesChwalinska has not beaten anyone ranked inside the world’s top 20, but has knocked out Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and former French Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari
Chwalinska’s remarkable run means Emma Raducanu’s place as the only qualifier to win a Grand Slam title – which the Briton achieved at the 2021 US Open – is under threat.
If Chwalinska beats Andreeva, it will rank as high as Raducanu in terms of major victories that no-one saw coming.
Most of Chwalinska’s career has been spent on the lower rungs of the professional ladder, travelling around trying to make ends meets.
Even after winning her second-round match in Paris, Chwalinska feared she could not afford to pay for more nights in her hotel.
Without sponsors of her own, a Polish company that backs six-time major champion Iga Swiatek – a childhood friend of Chwalinska – stepped in to cover the costs.
“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 mentioned.
In 2021, Chwalinska took an indefinite break from tennis after losing in the first round of qualifying at Wimbledon.
Chwalinska was suffering from a depression that left her feeling lifeless and unable to get out of bed. She had no idea when – or even if – she would return.
Four months later she felt well enough to make a comeback, but the journey to the top has been a slow burner.
Chwalinska was playing tiny tournaments in Italian cities Brescia and Bari after losing in French Open qualifying last year.
Now she is preparing to walk out in front of 15,000 people on Court Philippe Chatrier, as millions more watch on from around the world.
“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.”
✔ today silver rate
✔ 2026 winter olympics
✔ chat gtp
✔ silver rate today
✔ silver rate today live
✔ 2030 winter olympics
Sports
