Kalinskaya to Clash with Chwalinska Sensation in Roland Garros Quarterfinals
The Russian reaches a Grand Slam quarterfinal on clay for the first time and will try to halt the world No. 114 who came through qualifying.
Anna Kalinskaya vs. sensational Maja Chwalinska: a quarterfinal showdown of surprises at Roland Garros
Russian player Anna Kalinskaya (world No. 24) will meet the tournament’s biggest surprise, Polish world No. 114 Maja Chwalinska, in the Roland Garros quarterfinals. The match is scheduled for June 3 on Court Philippe Chatrier, starting around 12:00 Moscow time. For both players this will be their first career quarterfinal at the Paris clay-court major, and the winner is likely to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Main Story
Chwalinska’s run to the quarterfinals is one of the most remarkable stories of this Roland Garros. The 24-year-old Pole began in qualifying and has already won seven straight matches on the Parisian clay, six of them in straight sets. In the fourth round she dismantled the last French player standing, Diane Parry (world No. 92), 6-3, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
For the Polish player the achievement is historic—she became only the fourth woman from her country in the 21st century to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, after Agnieszka Radwanska, Iga Swiatek and Magda Linette. Chwalinska is also just the seventh lucky loser in the last 25 years to advance to the last eight in Paris.
Anna Kalinskaya, meanwhile, fought through a dramatic three-set battle against fellow Russian Anastasia Potapova (No. 28 seed), winning 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(10-7). The match on Court Suzanne Lenglen lasted nearly three hours; Potapova held two match points in the deciding set, but Kalinskaya saved them and completed a comeback from 0-4 down in the super-tiebreak. “I’m in shock, I can’t believe it’s over. It was an incredible battle right to the last second. It was really tough,” the Russian admitted afterward.
Details and Stats
Chwalinska’s numbers at the tournament are striking for their consistency. She defeated three opponents in qualifying (Alice Ram, Carole Monnet and Suzan Lamens), then in the main draw ousted Qinwen Zheng (world No. 56), Elise Mertens (No. 21), Maria Sakkari (No. 49) and finally Diane Parry. She dropped only one set all fortnight—in the third round against Sakkari.
Chwalinska’s success has already delivered a major payday. Reaching the quarterfinals earned her €480,000, more than her entire previous career prize money combined. Victory over Kalinskaya and a semifinal berth would lift that to €750,000. The player herself takes a wry view: “Taxes in France are huge, and then we still pay taxes back in Poland. It all sounds great, but in the end you’re left with half.”
Kalinskaya, contesting her second career Grand Slam quarterfinal (after the 2024 Australian Open), arrives in good physical shape. She eliminated Frenchwoman Loïs Boisson (2025 Roland Garros semifinalist) and then overcame Potapova in one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches. She will stay inside the top 25 regardless, and a semifinal run could lift her into the top 15.
Context and Significance
This quarterfinal pits two very different tennis journeys against each other. Kalinskaya is a seasoned tour veteran comfortable with pressure at the biggest events. Chwalinska, by contrast, was still playing ITF W75 events in Saint-Gaudens, France, just six weeks ago and only reached the quarterfinals there. Her path to Paris success has not been easy—in 2021 she took a break from the sport because of severe depression and wasn’t sure she would ever return.
“Nobody really knows me, honestly,” Chwalinska said with a smile after reaching the quarterfinals, adding that the lack of expectations frees her up. “I definitely didn’t expect this. I’m just so grateful to be here,” she told the BBC. Before this event she had only two main-draw wins on WTA clay in her entire career, and her previous best Grand Slam result was a second-round appearance at Wimbledon 2022, also via qualifying.
The left-hander’s heavy topspin creates serious problems on the slow Parisian clay, and that weapon has already accounted for four top-60 opponents. Victory over Kalinskaya would make Chwalinska only the second woman in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros semifinals after coming through qualifying (after Nadia Podoroska in 2020).
Next Match Preview
The quarterfinal between Anna Kalinskaya and Maja Chwalinska will be played on Wednesday, June 3 on Court Philippe Chatrier, starting at 12:00 Moscow time. The two have never met, so the match will be their first head-to-head.
The winner will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals on June 5 (provided the Belarusian beats Diana Shnaider). Given the tournament’s unpredictable nature, surprises in that match cannot be ruled out either.
For Kalinskaya, a win would mark her first career Grand Slam semifinal. Her previous best was the 2024 Australian Open quarterfinal. For Chwalinska, simply continuing guarantees a debut inside the WTA top 100 and a strong chance of cracking the top 50.
Editorial Forecast
On paper, Anna Kalinskaya is the favorite. She holds the experience edge, ranks much higher (No. 24 vs. No. 114) and is accustomed to deep runs at majors. The dramatic comeback against Potapova also boosted her confidence.
Yet underestimating Maja Chwalinska would be a mistake. First, the surprise factor: the Pole is an unknown quantity to most players, and Kalinskaya will have to adjust to her left-handed spin on the fly. Second, Chwalinska has already beaten four top-60 players convincingly. Third, she has nothing to lose and is playing with freedom and aggression.
The key question is whether Chwalinska can handle the mental shift from underdog to quarterfinal favorite. Until now she was the dark horse no one expected to go far. Suddenly everyone is watching. Can the player who only recently doubted her own return to the sport handle that pressure? It remains to be seen.
We expect Kalinskaya to win, but it will be costly. A three-set battle is likely, with the Russian’s experience in tight situations proving decisive. Chwalinska may claim one set (probably the second), but Kalinskaya should close it out 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. If the Pole keeps her dream run alive and reaches the semifinals, it will be one of the biggest stories of the tennis year—a tale of overcoming depression and believing in yourself against all odds. Either way, June 3 on Court Philippe Chatrier promises a thrilling spectacle from two players who have never been this close to the title.
— Editorial Team
