Chwalinska becomes first qualifier to make Roland Garros final after downing Shnaider

[p]After 19-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreeva-mirra/lI6fOOat/"]Andreeva[/a] sealed a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/andreeva-m-lI6fOOat/kostyuk-m-8CZqQdSa/?mid=tMeHmEwK"]6-1, ‌6-3[/a] semi-final win over Ukrainian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a], ‌it was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chwalinska-maja/OIxOD54s/"]Chwalinska[/a]'s turn to shine under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, and the 24-year-old ‌delivered her best tennis when ⁠it mattered to ‌go through.[/p][p]"[b]It feels like a dream. I don't ‌know what's going on. I'm just ... I don't know what to ‌say, I'm very happy[/b]," Chwalinska said to huge cheers from the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.[/p][p]"[b]I'm not feeling great (physically), I won't lie, it's so challenging to play against the best ‌players in the world day after day, but it's ⁠a Grand Slam and you have ‌to give it your all and more[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I'm not complaining at all[/b]."[/p][embed guid="b24a8590-a958-4a70-8a82-3cce88c2ad0b" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062594746007392355" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shnaider-diana/028BdVOj/"]Shnaider[/a] cut a frustrated figure in the ​opening set as her opponent came up with some stunning winners that showcased ​her power and precision, but the 22-year-old Russian hit back to recover a second ⁠break and ​draw level at 4-4.[/p][p]Chwalinska turned up the style further in the battle of the left-handers, unleashing a backhand winner to hold in a ‌marathon 11th game, before earning a set point in the ensuing tiebreak with the perfect lob.[/p][p]The crowd favourite, playing in her ninth match at Roland Garros this year and sporting strapping on her left thigh, took the opening set to roaring applause before going toe-to-toe with Shnaider in the ‌opening eight games of the next.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="80bdb776-efeb-4166-8d14-9d1b2608901a" credit-line="Enetpulse" guid="633d7922-78ae-44cc-a209-c787ad964139" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]"[b]I'm crazy sometimes, but I try to stay composed[/b]," she said of her calm approach in tense moments.[/p][p]"[b]It's the best way for me and helps me play my best tennis. I'm trying to do that, but inside there's a storm, believe me[/b]."[/p][p]A decisive ​break in the next game gave Chwalinska ‌a great opportunity to close out an absorbing contest in two sets, and the world number 114 stayed focused to finish her opponent off on her ⁠first match point ⁠with a forehand ‌winner.[/p][p]Saturday's final will crown a new Grand Slam champion and ‌Chwalinska said she was ready to step into the spotlight and looked forward to her next clash.[/p][embed guid="bd210cbf-8dc5-418f-8057-fadf3bcdfdbd" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2062587065292767411" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]I watched Mirra's match a bit[/b]," added Chwalinska, only the second qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final in the professional era after Emma Raducanu's triumphant US Open run in 2021.[/p][p]"[b]Her ⁠game is incredible. It's another great ⁠experience for me. I'll give ‌my all, it's a Grand Slam final[/b]."[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/chwalinska-m-OIxOD54s/shnaider-d-028BdVOj/?mid=6J1JWr7N"]Check out the match stats here[/a][/b][/p]