Maja Chwalinska: French Open finalist's 'free' tattoo marks a new chapter

After coming through her darkest hours, surprise French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska visited a tattoo parlour.

A tiny word - 'free' - was etched onto the 24-year-old qualifier's left hand.

Poland's Chwalinska, who is one win from joining Britain's Emma Raducanu as the only qualifier to lift a Grand Slam title, would not be drawn on why she chose it.

"I will keep it to myself. You can make your own stories," Chwalinska said.

After a Roland Garros run that was unthinkable a few weeks ago, it feels like there is big meaning in such a small word.

Five years ago, 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 to the sport.

The Pole went back to her family home and sought help from mental health specialists.

When she was well enough, Chwalinska took up running and boxing as part of the recovery process and, after a four-month break, decided to go back to tennis.

Now, she stands one win away from one of the sport's biggest prizes after a stunning semi-final victory over Diana Shnaider in Paris on Thursday.

The past five years has seen Chwalinska work hard on the lower levels of the WTA Tour, diligently trying to improve her game.

Working on being able to mentally compartmentalise her career - which she associated with "pressure, stress and crying" - from the rest of her life has proved crucial.

A year ago, Chwalinska was playing tiny tournaments in Italian cities Brescia and Bari after going out of the French Open in the second round of qualifying.

Now she has won nine matches in a row at Roland Garros. One more will see her become the first qualifier in the Open era to lift the trophy here.

Maybe the tattoo represents how she has played over the past three weeks - with a freedom and joy that has captivated the Parisian crowds.

Chwalinska has earned notable wins over former French Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, as well as beating three seeded players in Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Elise Mertens.

Playing with variety and spin, Chwalinska can lob, drop shot and moonball her opponents to distraction, but she can also hit with pace to finish off points quickly.

"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 has almost tripled her career prize money with the guarantee of winning at least £1.2m by reaching the final.

"After the tournament there will be time to process it and breathe in, breathe out."