Sports · Tennis · 8 hrs ago
Navratilova names Chwalinska’s French Open final run the season’s biggest surprise
Martina Navratilova named Maja Chwalinska’s French Open run her biggest surprise of 2026.
The Polish player reached the Roland Garros final as a qualifier, after starting the tournament ranked 114th in the world.
Her run stood out in a season when established stars missed out on major titles, including Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.
Chwalinska then lost her opening matches at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open and the US Open.
She turned her season around in Asia, reaching the Singapore Open semifinals and winning the Wuhan Open.
The Wuhan win was her first Masters title, and it lifted her to No.
11 in the WTA rankings.
She has an outside chance of becoming an alternate at the WTA Finals later this year.
Martina Navratilova named Maja Chwalinska’s run to the French Open final her biggest surprise of the 2026 tennis season.
Chwalinska reached the Roland Garros final as a qualifier, after starting the tournament ranked world No. 114.
Navratilova praised Chwalinska’s playing style and said she expected her to finish the season in the top 20.
After early exits at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open and the US Open, Chwalinska reached the Singapore Open semifinals and won the Wuhan Open.
The Wuhan title was her first Masters title, and the article said she was ranked world No. 11.
- Who
- Martina Navratilova praised Polish player Maja Chwalinska’s season.
- What
- Navratilova called Chwalinska’s run to the French Open final the season’s biggest surprise.
- When
- The article was published on October 23, 2026; the run took place during the 2026 season.
- Where
- Chwalinska reached the final at Roland Garros in France.
- Why
- Navratilova said the run stood out because Chwalinska came out of nowhere and played old-style tennis.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Chwalinska, a qualifier ranked world No. 114, reached the Roland Garros final.
She lost in the opening round at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open and the US Open.
Chwalinska reached the Singapore Open semifinals.
She won the Wuhan Open, defeating Sonay Kartal in the final.
Tennis365 reported Navratilova’s choice of Chwalinska’s French Open run as the season’s biggest surprise.
- French Open
- Chwalinska reached the final as a qualifier
- Starting ranking
- World No. 114
- Wuhan Open
- Chwalinska won her first Masters title
- Current ranking
- World No. 11
- Navratilova’s assessment
- Called the French Open run the season’s biggest surprise
What people are saying
For me, Maja Chwalinska getting to the finals of the French Open.
Came out of nowhere, now she’s going to finish top 20 in the world.
And she plays kind of old-style tennis.
For me, that’s the biggest surprise. Maja Chwalinska, the tip of the hat.