Maja Chwalinska has addressed speculation about receiving a Wimbledon wildcard following her stunning run to the French Open final, where she became only the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final.
A historic run in Paris
The Polish player defeated multiple seeded opponents before falling to Mirra Andreeva 6‑3, 6‑2 in the championship match. Her performance will propel her ranking from No.113 to a new career‑high of world No.21, marking a dramatic rise in just two weeks.
Wildcard debate
Chwalinska was originally set to compete in Wimbledon qualifying from June 22‑25, but her breakthrough has sparked debate over whether the All England Club might award her direct entry. “I mean, that would be the news of the century. I honestly don’t expect it,” she said. “I will treat it as a challenge. It’s a new surface, I don’t have much time. But I will give my all and we will see. Grass is always a nice change.”
Rest before Wimbledon
The French Open finalist has withdrawn from the Lexus Ilkley Open, a WTA 125 event, choosing instead to take a week off. “I am not going to play anything before Wimbledon, that’s for sure. I need some time to recharge,” she explained, adding that she had planned a short vacation after Roland Garros.
Henman’s perspective
Former British No.1 Tim Henman, now a board member of the All England Club, suggested she has a strong chance of being awarded a wildcard. “I think there is a pretty good chance. She will be a great inspiration for other players who are inside the top 200. The confidence and money she takes away to reinvest in herself is incredible, and I am sure it is not the last we have seen of her,” Henman said on TNT Sports.
Staying grounded
Despite earning €1.4 million in prize money—more than 14 times her previous career earnings—Chwalinska remains focused on development. “I definitely will work hard. I will give my all to be better each and every day. I am very grateful for this time but it’s in the past now, so I just need to continue to stay present and give my all to be a better player every day,” she concluded.
Maja Chwalinska in 2026
Now the world no.114, the Pole played her last match on the 6th of June when she was defeated by world no.8 Mirra Andreeva 6-3 6-2 in the final of the French Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season Maja has a composed 29-10 match record. Maja clinched 1 title in the Oeiras. Maja was the runner-up at the French Open.
