Teenager Mirra Andreeva claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2. At 19 years old, the Russian eighth seed became the youngest woman to win the French Open since Monica Seles in 1992.
Emotional celebration with her coach
After sealing victory in one hour and 22 minutes, Andreeva collapsed to the clay in joy before rushing to embrace her coach Conchita Martínez, herself a Wimbledon champion in 1994. “I’ve been watching Roland Garros since I was very young and it has always been a dream to win this trophy,” Andreeva said, dedicating her triumph to years of hard work and guidance from Martínez.
Chwalinska’s fairytale run ends
World number 114 Chwalinska, who entered the tournament as a 500-1 outsider, captivated the Parisian crowd with her spirited performances. She held serve first in the final, drawing loud support from thousands of Polish fans, but Andreeva’s composure allowed her to reel off nine consecutive games. “I wish you could see a better match today, but Mirra was too good for me, I guess it is her fault!” Chwalinska joked, before adding, “I will not forget these three weeks. Paris will stay forever with me in my heart.”
Rising maturity and composure
Andreeva overcame early nerves and swirling winds, showing her growing maturity by recovering from a tense start. Her ability to maintain rhythm and control from the baseline proved decisive against Chwalinska’s variety. Once she secured a break in the second set, her victory never looked in doubt.
A journey of steady progress
Born in Siberia and trained in France, Andreeva had already reached the French Open semi-finals in 2024. Under Martínez’s mentorship, she continued to evolve, winning two WTA 1000 titles in 2025 and breaking into the world’s top five. She acknowledged her coach’s influence, thanking her for “sharing her experiences and giving me so much advice” during their partnership.
Chwalinska’s career-changing fortnight
Despite defeat, Chwalinska’s run was transformative. Having struggled financially on the lower circuits, she now earns €1.4 million in prize money, tripling her career earnings, and rises to a career-high ranking of 21. Her performances in Paris may secure her a Wimbledon main draw wildcard, marking a new chapter in her career.
The French Open 2026 final highlighted both the arrival of a new champion in Andreeva and the remarkable journey of Chwalinska, whose resilience and flair captured hearts across Paris.
Mirra Andreeva in 2026
Now ranked no.8, the Russian played her last match on the 6th of June when she beat world no.114 Maja Chwalinska 6-3 6-2 in the final of the French Open to win her 5th career title.
This year the Russian owns an overall 37-9 win-loss record. The Russian clinched 3 titles in 2026 in Adelaide, Linz and French Open. The Russian was the finalist in Madrid.
