She couldn’t pay her hotel bill: Meet Maja Chwalińska, the qualifier who battled depression and financial struggles to reach the French Open final

Maja Chwalińska story: What began as a little-known qualifier’s journey in Paris has turned into one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 French Open, with Poland’s Maja Chwalińska reaching the women’s singles final after starting the tournament outside the top 100. Her run at Roland-Garros has combined sporting breakthrough with personal and financial struggle, making her story one of the most unexpected of the tournament.

Maja Chwalińska’s Journey From Early Rounds to Roland-Garros Final

Chwalińska had to battle through three qualifying matches just to enter the main draw at the French Open. From there, she continued her run all the way to the final, defeating Russia’s Diana Shnaider 7-6, 6-4 in the semifinals on Thursday, as per a New York Post report.

That win secured her place in Saturday’s final and made her only the second women’s qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final, following Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open, as per a Business Insider report. She is also the first qualifier ever to reach the Roland-Garros final.

Maja Chwalińska’s Struggles With Hotel Costs During Breakthrough Tournament Run

Despite her success on court, Chwalińska revealed during the tournament that she was struggling financially in Paris.

The 24-year-old qualifier explained that players receive prize money only after the tournament ends, which left her worried about paying for her hotel during the event. Even after earning roughly $150,000 for reaching the second round, day-to-day costs such as accommodation remained a concern.

Chwalińska said, "I mentioned in the interview after the match against Maria [Sakkari] that I actually struggled to pay for the hotel, because you know that we get the check after the tournament," as quoted by Business Insider.

She later shared that Polish company Oshee stepped in to help cover her hotel expenses, easing the pressure as her run continued deeper into the tournament.

Guaranteed €1.4 Million Prize Money for French Open Finalist

By reaching the final, Chwalińska has already secured at least €1.4 million (about $1.63 million). If she wins the title, she will take home €2.8 million (about $3.25 million), as per the Business Insider report.

This is a dramatic financial shift for a player who entered Roland-Garros ranked outside the top 100 and is now projected to rise to around world No. 21.

Her path to the final included a key semifinal win over Shnaider, who had previously upset top seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Chwalińska noted that the level in qualifying was also extremely strong, saying players there are “great competitors,” highlighting how competitive her journey has been from the very beginning.

Mental Health Struggles Behind Her Comeback Story

She has also been open about her struggles off the court, revealing that she dealt with depression for two years and stepped away from tennis after losing in Wimbledon qualifying in 2021, as per the New York Post report.

Chwalińska later returned to make her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2022, and now has reached her biggest career milestone at Roland-Garros.

French Open Final Set: Maja Chwalińska vs Mirra Andreeva

In Saturday’s final, Chwalińska will face 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, ranked No. 8 in the world, who is also appearing in her first Grand Slam final.

Andreeva has played six matches in the tournament, compared to Chwalińska’s nine.

“Like a Dream” - Chwalińska Reflects on Historic Achievement

After securing her place in the final, Chwalińska admitted she struggled to describe the moment, calling it “like a dream” and saying she did not know what was going on, as per the Business Insider report.

She said, "I feel like in tennis you're always hungry," adding, "You kind of set one goal, but then you reach it, and you want more. So, very grateful for this moment, but I definitely want more," as quoted in the report.

FAQs

Who is Maja Chwalińska?
She is a Polish tennis player who reached the 2026 French Open final as a qualifier.

Who will she face in the final?
She will play Mirra Andreeva in the final.