What’s at Stake in Saturday’s RG Women’s Final?

Saturday’s Roland Garros women’s singles final pits a Top 10 teenager against a 114-ranked qualifier who had won two tour-level matches on clay prior to this year’s event. 

A unique set up for a final clash after two wild weeks in Paris. Scroll down for more stats and storylines ahead of Saturday’s title clash. 

Chasing Emma? 

At the 2021 US Open Emma Raducanu became the first player in tennis history to turn a qualifying run into a major singles title.

Just under five years later, it could happen again. Chwalinska, 24, has rambled through a total of nine matches to reach the final. She has become the first qualifier to ever reach a Roland-Garros final. Along the way the left-hander has claimed her first four career Top 50 wins and doubled her total of WTA-level victories, by adding six. 

Chwalinska is the lowest-ranked woman to make the Roland Garros final since Day 1 of the WTA Rankings in November of 1975. The lowest-ranked player to win the women’s title in Paris previously? Believe it or not, it was Iga Swiatek, who was ranked No.54 when she won her first of four titles on the Parisian clay, in 2020.

Teen Spirit 

Andreeva is far more accomplished than Chwalinska – and quite a bit younger. The Russian, who carries a 17-3 career record at Roland Garros into the final, is bidding to become the youngest Roland Garros women’s singles champion since 18-year-old Monica Seles won her third straight Roland Garros title in 1992 (Seles won her first Roland Garros title in 1990 aged 16). Andreeva, who turned 19 on April 29, has already become the youngest Grand Slam women’s singles finalist since Coco Gauff at 2022 Roland Garros (l. Swiatek in final). 

Top 20 for Chwalinska? 

The Pole, who has never been ranked higher than 113, could rise to No.14 in the WTA rankings with the title – she’s currently at No.21 in the live rankings. 

Andreeva jumps to No.6 regardless of the result in Saturday’s final, but she could rise to No.1 in the Race to the WTA finals with a title. If not she’ll sit at No.3 in the race. 

New at the Majors, and the Clay 

Chwalinska entered Roland Garros with just two previous Grand Slam main draw appearances under her belt. The 24-year-old had just two clay-court wins to her name, and she had never even reached a WTA semifinal prior to this week. 

She is the third woman in the last 30 years to reach her first Tour-level final at a Grand Slam event, joining Venus Williams (1997 US Open runner-up) and Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open champion).

Mirra the Maven 

In just four Roland Garros appearances, Andreeva has already put together an impressive CV. She’s 17-3 overall, and had previously reached a semifinal, in 2024. Only Chris Evert, Margaret Court, Monica Seles (19) and Iga Swiatek (18) have claimed more wins than Mirra Andreeva (17) in their first 20 matches on the Parisian clay. Since 1990, only Martina Hingis (26), Monica Seles and Iva Majoli (21 each) have claimed more women’s singles main draw wins at Roland Garros as a teenager than Mirra Andreeva (17). 

What they’re saying: 

Andreeva says that life is easier for her these days because she has complete trust in her coach Conchita Martinez. 

“I feel like I completely trust what my team tells me, and now it’s easier for me to do,” she said. “Whatever they tell me, I will just do it. Also maybe it’s easier after to blame them if something doesn’t go well. I’m joking, of course. Lately I just feel like I’m able to trust them fully and not doubt anything.”

She adds that experience is starting to help her on tour. 

“I’m getting older, a little bit more mature every match I play, a little bit more experience. So I think that now I’m able to approach every match differently and try to really focus on the opponent that I’m gonna play against and the game plan that I’m going to have to use on the court.” 

Despite her lack of experience, Chwalinska doesn’t think she will be awed by the big stage on Saturday. 

“Nothing changes for me. You know, I’m just, like, playing tennis. I mean, the stage changed, but honestly, I’m just playing tennis and practicing. For me, it doesn’t change.I just want to win whatever I’m playing, whatever match I’m playing. That’s it.”