PARIS – Maja Chwalinska extended her remarkable French Open run by beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3 Wednesday to reach the semifinals.
The unseeded Chwalinska came through three qualifying rounds to become only the second Polish woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros, along with four-time champion Iga Swiatek — an achievement she is putting aside, for now, in order to stay focused.
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“I don’t process it, you know,” Chwalinska said. “But definitely after the tournament finishes, I will have time to be grateful for what happened and process it as well.”
She said British player Emma Raducanu's run to the 2021 U.S. Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier had inspired her.
"It was such an impressive run, you know. Also, she was so young," Chwalinska recalled. "I think she didn’t drop a set, as well. So it was just incredible."
Kalinskaya's wild shot at the net gave Chwalinska a match point and she converted it when Kalinskaya's big forehand from the back of the court went out.
The 24-year-old Chwalinska put her hand over her mouth and then her face in her hands in near disbelief. Chwalinska had never been beyond the second round at any major before this tournament.
“I'm playing against the best players in the world," she said. “I won't compare myself to them.”
She next faces either top-ranked top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, last year’s runner-up, or No. 25 Diana Shnaider.
Whatever happens next, she has already doubled her career earnings.
Chwalinska's total prize money before this tournament was $864,030 and reaching the last four here earns her 750,000 euros (about $872,000).
Windy conditions
After they traded early breaks of serve amid blustery conditions with the roof open on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Chwalinska led 5-1 until Kalinskaya broke back in the seventh game, having saved a set point, then held for 5-3.
Kalinskaya saved another set point at 40-30 down in the following game, then used her strong backhand to break a nervous-looking Chwalinska's serve again.
Chwalinska clinched the first set at the third opportunity when Kalinskaya’s two-handed backhand sailed long.
“I feel like I was fighting against the wind, against the weather conditions, plus against her. Being lefty, it was very tricky today,” Kalinskaya said. “It was cold today, so the ball was going slower. I couldn’t use my speed, my power. So it definitely was an advantage for her today, for her game style.”
Chwalinska secured a double break of serve to lead 4-1 in the second set, but dropped her serve when serving for the match at 5-2.
It made little difference as Kalinskaya’s flagging serve soon gave her another chance.
Men's matches
In the two remaining men's quarterfinals, No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime took on No. 10 Flavio Cobolli before unseeded Italians Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi faced off.
All of Wednesday's matches were held on Chatrier.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev and No. 26 Jakub Mensik won their quarterfinals Tuesday and will meet in the semifinals. ___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis