Maja Chwalinska is through to her maiden grand slam final after a straight-sets victory over Diana Shnaider at the French Open.

Both players were playing in the final four of a major for the first time, but it was Chwalinska who came out on top 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier to book a meeting with Mirra Andreeva in the showpiece.

After a strong start from both players, Chwalinska got the first break of the match in the fourth game without dropping a point, but Shnaider hit straight back to pull level once more.

Neither player gave away many openings, though Shnaider almost got a vital break, having two attempts to take a 6-5 lead, but Chwalinska held on before being taken to a tie-break.

The Russian had another chance to pull clear, going 4-2 up in the tiebreak and looked to be in total control, but suddenly lost her range and Chwalinska took advantage, reeling off five straight points to take the lead.

The qualifier then got another break in the opening game of the second set, only to have her advantage immediately cancelled out once more.

Shnaider was then 4-3 up when she required a medical timeout, and she failed to get back into her groove, with Chwalinska winning the final three games and converting match point with a forehand down the line before dropping to the floor in relief.

Setting out on her own path

Chwalinska showed some brilliant range during the semi-final and had Shnaider on the ropes at times as she kept her composure and never looked like she felt the pressure of her attempt to reach a first grand slam final.

Among players to debut at Roland-Garros in the Open Era, Chwalinska is the third to reach the women's singles final at the event in their maiden main-draw appearance, after Evonne Goolagong (1971) and Chris Evert (1973).

Chwalinska is the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach the singles final in a major after Emma Raducanu at the US Open in 2021, males included. The Brit went on to win the event that year, and Chwalinska can write her name into history alongside her.

The Pole is also the third player in the Open Era to reach her maiden WTA-level final in a major after Venus Williams (US Open 1997) and Raducanu, and she will be hoping to finish on a high this weekend.