Roland Garros 2026 Women’s Day 11

Maja Chwalinska will face another big test at the French Open when she steps into an unexpected Thursday semi-final after reaching the last four in Paris as an unfancied qualifier..

The Poler, whose 114 ranking will rise to at least 30th, continued her miracle run with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 upset of Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-final on Wednesday.

But that achievement was put in the shade on a windswept day as Diane Scnaider stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 thrashing to completely topple title predictions at the clay court major.

The pair of shock results produced an all-lefty showdown between a near-unknown and a journeywomen who will be playing the biggest match of their lives.  

The 23rd-ranked Shnaider successfully met the testing conditions while Sabalenka turned into the picture of frustration as she served while leading a set and 5-4 while failing to come good.

The 2025 Paris runner-up and four-time Grand Slam champion then began to unravel as her game failed to fire and her opponent seized more and more momentum.

The top seed lost serve three times in the second set and was unable to land a blow in the third, with Scnaider running off the last 10 games, advancing as Sabalenka netted a return after nearly two and a quarter hours.

“I’m speechless, super-happy,” the winner said. “It was tough conditions with the wind. I was also super-nervous in my first time playing her and trying to adjust to her game.

.”I had to figure out how to play in the wind. I focused on the point and tried not to think of the score

Sabalenka took a heavy defeat as semi-finalist at the last six Grand Slams; she stood 13-1 in quarter-finals at the majors.

The defeat of Kalinskaya was the eighth straight match win here for Polish outsider Chwalinska.

She becomes the first qualifier since Argentine Nadia Podororska in 2020 to reach a Paris semi.

The win for Chwalinska was not without drama in a 70-minute opening set where she reached 5-1 but missed on a set point in the seventh game.

The opener went into a tiebreaker, where the outsider finally took it on her third chance.

Chwalinska also had to defend a lead in the second set, holding on from 5-2 against a frustrated opponent who struck nearly 50 unforced errors.

Kalinskaya, who had frequent angry words with her coaching box, mis-hit on her opponent’s match point to finally take the loss after just under two hours.

The shy Chwalinska felt a bit out of place at the business end of the major despite her fortnight of accomplishments.

“Honestly, I don’t know what is going on. Every match I win here is crazy for me. So I’m very grateful.

“I may look happy on court but I’m nervous – it’s normal. But i try to focus on my game and I’m happy that I did that.”

The winner who entered Roland Garros with a No. 114 ranking, said she is focusing more on winning than perhaps developing confidence.   

“I’m playing against the best in the world, I won’t compare myself to them.”

Main photo:-Maja Chwalinsaka winning quarter final bvy Roger Parker ISF Ltd