How Maja Chwalinska went from qualifying defeat to French Open finalist in a year

Paris: While Paris buzzes around her, Maja Chwalinska keeps things simple: tea, a show, perhaps a little tennis, and an early night. It is the routine that has carried Roland Garros’ surprise finalist from world No. 114 to No. 21 in the Live Rankings, and she sees no reason to change it now. On Saturday, the Pole will face eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the biggest match of her life, determined to remain inside the bubble that has served her so well these past weeks.Chwalinska, 24, has the word “free” etched on her left hand. She declined to explain its meaning, but is perhaps related to her struggle against depression, which forced her to step away from the game. “I feel like I’m in a bubble, I don't know what’s going on,” she said after the semi-finals. “I just try to focus on every single match, give my all and then, after the tournament, there will be time to process it. Breathe in, breathe out.” A year ago, Chwalinska left Roland Garros after losing in qualifying competition. Now the 5 ft 5’ Pole stands one match from becoming the first qualifier in the Open era to win the title. A self-confessed tennis addict, she devours matches whenever she can, using them to study opponents and deepen her understanding of the game. That knowledge is reflected in her own tennis, a left-handed blend of angles, variety and imagination that keeps rivals guessing and has become one of the stories of this tournament.“I'm a tennis freak, I love watching tennis. When I was younger, I watched tennis all day, every day. I feel like it helps me read the game better,” she said, adding that she is grateful that she could watch Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic when growing up. “Sometimes I go back to these old matches and watch them play. It feels like poetry.” The daughter of a retired coal miner and a receptionist, Tomasz and Marcela, Chwalinska was uncertain of how she would pay for her stay in Paris as she progressed through the draw. A sponsor stepped in to help. She still does not have a clothing sponsor, but after the fortnight of her life, it is hard to imagine companies will not be queuing up to back her, whatever the outcome of Saturday’s final.’