Maja Chwalinska belied her status as a qualifier by reaching the quarter-finals

Paris (France) (AFP) - Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska extended her remarkable run at the French Open by cruising into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Diane Parry on Monday.

The world number 114 ended French interest in the singles at Roland Garros by seeing off home hope Parry 6-3, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“I didn’t expect it for sure, coming in starting the tournament. I’m just very, very grateful to be here,” said Chwalinska.

The 24-year-old Chwalinska had only won one match in her two previous Grand Slam appearances, at Wimbledon in 2022.

But she will now face Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya on Wednesday for a place in the French Open semi-finals.

“She’s one of the top players in the world. No one knows me, to be honest, so definitely a very challenging one, like every match here,” added Chwalinska of facing Kalinskaya.

It is the first time a qualifier has reached the women’s quarter-finals in Paris since Martina Trevisan and Nadia Podoroska both achieved the feat in 2020.