Maja Chwalinska has shared an emotional message after losing to Mirra Andreeva in the Roland Garros final.
The Polish qualifier was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by Andreeva, who claimed her first Grand Slam title in Paris at the age of 19.
Chwalinska’s defeat ended one of the standout runs of the tournament, with the world No.114 having come through qualifying before reaching the biggest final of her career.
After the match, Chwalinska thanked the crowd for the support she had received across the tournament and gave credit to Andreeva for her performance.
Maja Chwalinska thanks fans after Roland Garros final defeat
Chwalinska addressed the crowd after the final and made clear how much the last three weeks in Paris had meant to her.
She said: “I’d like to thank all of you guys who came today. Not only today but these 3 weeks. Thank you for supporting me. I really felt your love. I’m very grateful. I wish you could see a better match today, but Mirra was just too good for me so I guess it’s her fault. I tried my best I’m sorry.”
Chwalinska then closed her message by saying: “Thank you so much. Paris will stay forever in my heart.”
The 24-year-old’s reaction mixed gratitude, humour and acceptance. She thanked the crowd, acknowledged Andreeva’s level, and apologised for not producing a better match.
Andreeva had been the stronger player once the final settled. The opening stages were competitive, but the eighth seed took control after the middle of the first set and closed out the match in straight sets.
Chwalinska’s Paris run still made history despite Andreeva defeat
Although the final went Andreeva’s way, Chwalinska’s route to the title match remains a major achievement.
The Pole became the first player to reach a Roland Garros final from qualifying after beating Diana Shnaider 7-6(4), 6-4 in the semi-final.
Her run also placed her in rare Grand Slam company. Chwalinska became only the second qualifier to reach a women’s Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era, following Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open.
That context made her post-final reaction more significant. The defeat was clear, but it came at the end of a campaign that changed the scale of her career.
Andreeva also left Paris with a major breakthrough. The Russian teenager won her first Grand Slam title and confirmed her status as one of the leading players in the women’s game.
For Chwalinska, the final was a difficult end to a remarkable fortnight. She did not hide from the result, but her message showed that the tournament had meant far more than one defeat.
Andreeva took the trophy, while Chwalinska left Roland Garros after the biggest run of her career and a closing message that showed her appreciation for the Paris crowd.
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