Maja Chwalinska reaches French Open quarter-finals as a qualifier

Nobody knows me, to be honest.

But Poland's Maja Chwalinska is perhaps only a few matches away from that changing forever.

The 24-year-old has become the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open women's singles in six years after beating French player Diane Parry 6-3 6-2.

Having come through three qualifying rounds to secure her main-draw debut at Roland Garros, a beaming Chwalinska shook her head in disbelief after completing her victory on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Prior to this tournament, the world number 114 had won two tour-level main-draw matches on clay in her career, and registered just one win - at Wimbledon in 2022 - in her only two Slam appearances.

But she has won all seven of her matches at Roland Garros since qualifying began two weeks ago, claiming six of those in straight sets, and is projected to break into the world's top 50.

"I didn't expect it for sure. I'm just very grateful to be here," Chwalinska told the crowd.

Chwalinska took a break from tennis during 2021, amid a struggle with depression, and did not know whether she would return to the sport.

Now, she could become only the second qualifier in the Open era to reach the Roland Garros women's semi-finals, after Nadia Podoroska in 2020.

First, she must overcome Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya for a place in the last four, where world number one Aryna Sabalenka could await.

On facing Kalinskaya, Chwalinska said: "She is one of the top players in the world. Nobody knows me, to be honest.

"So definitely, a very challenging one again - like every match here. I need to play my best tennis to win."