If tennis fans are surprised to see Maja Chwalińska in the quarterfinals, they are not alone.
“Well, it’s definitely a big surprise for me, and I didn’t expect it, surely,” Chwalińska said with a smile Monday after defeating France’s Diane Parry.
The world No. 114 came through three rounds of qualifying and has dropped just one set, against 2021 semifinalist Maria Sakkari, en route to her first career Grand Slam semifinal.
She has far surpassed her previous best run at a major — the second round of Wimbledon in 2022.
She took down the Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who was struggling physically, in the first round and upset No. 23 seed Elise Mertens in the second with her heavy topspin and deftness in the forecourt.
After beating Sakkari in the third round, Parry 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth, and Anna Kalinskaya (22) 7-6(3), 6-3 in yesterday’s quarterfinal, she has enjoyed a brilliant run to the semifinals for a qualifier.
