If Maja Wins Roland Garros, Polish Coach Promises to Chill the French

Polish tennis player Maja Chwalińska, 24, is living a true fairy tale in Paris. Without an equipment sponsor and facing financial difficulties, the current world No. 114 has reached the Roland Garros final, attracting attention from various brands and securing career-changing prize money.

Maja Chwalińska clinched the Oeiras Ladies Open in April, defeating her close friend, Austrian Sinja Kraus, 6-1, 6-3. This WTA 125 title at Jamor marked the Polish player's second trophy in Portugal, following her Porto victory in 2024. The Oeiras win propelled her into the WTA top 120, settling at 118th, and gave her the momentum needed to compete in the Roland-Garros qualifying rounds.

Chwalińska explained why she wore different gear for each match. "Right now, I don't have a sponsor, so I wear what I like. It's good because there are no restrictions. If a shirt fits well, I just wear it," she said with a smile.

What appeared to be a choice was also a result of significant hardship, as explained by her coach. He revealed that to play the Australian Open three years ago, he had to seek accommodation through social media from Poles living near Melbourne.

This situation persisted at the start of Roland Garros. Maja's journey began in the qualifying rounds, and three days later, she secured a spot in the main draw, consistently wearing a dark grey, logo-free shirt. However, as she advanced in the tournament, her story began to capture attention.

"If she wins, I'll celebrate by jumping into the Seine!" promised her coach, who also revealed that upon arriving in Paris, the expectation was for Maja to advance one or two rounds. "It would end the enormous pressure of never having money," he recounted. The River Seine, one of Paris's jewels, was off-limits for swimming for years but has been rehabilitated for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, filling the French with pride.

When she appeared in a shirt from an expensive brand, the Polish coach confessed his dismay at the social media backlash, with critics questioning the fairy tale. "Some people throw harsh words at me, but I don't care because I've been through a lot. Those who don't know me or the whole team don't know how we got here. Therefore, they have no right to judge us, as they simply don't know our story. As for my clothes, the truth is I got chocolate on myself at dinner and had to borrow a shirt from a friend. I came here with three shirts and some underwear because I thought I'd make it to the final stages and figured I'd buy something later. But we can't go shopping; we wash everything overnight. I'd like to thank my friend who took pity on me and lent me his best clothes," he shared.

In Grand Slam tournaments, where major sponsors like BNP Paribas and Perrier have a consolidated presence, it's challenging for other brands to gain visibility. Top players like Sinner, Alcaraz, Sabalenka, and Swiatek have expensive, long-term sponsorship deals. Therefore, many companies focus on lesser-known athletes who make surprising runs, whose equipment still has space for advertising at a more accessible cost.

This was the case for Chwalińska. Investment firm Eightstone and betting company XTB were the first to appear on her shirt. However, it was a confession from the player herself that triggered the biggest change. "In an interview after the match against Maria Sakkari, I said I was struggling to pay for the hotel because we only receive the check after the tournament ends," she revealed.

The revelation prompted Oshee, a Polish isotonic drink producer and sponsor of Iga Swiatek, to act immediately, covering the costs of her stay in Paris. "I'm grateful to them," declared Chwalińska, who, like her compatriot, signed a contract with the brand, displaying its logo from the quarter-finals onwards.

What seems to remain unchanged, for now, is the diet of her small team. Maja amusingly shared that they eat pizza every day because they are superstitious and it has brought them luck. If Maja wins, they might have to add champagne to dinner, but they probably won't change their routine.

The Polish player's journey is remarkable not only for her sporting success but also for the financial windfall. Having accumulated approximately 743,840 euros throughout her career, her presence in the final already guarantees her at least 1.4 million euros. This amount represents a huge boost, especially after a turbulent period.

In 2021, after being eliminated in Wimbledon qualifying, Chwalińska took a break from her career to deal with depression and mental health issues that had affected her for two years. "I couldn't get out of bed. To be honest, there was no life in me," she confessed about that difficult phase, marked by the pressures of professional tennis.

That period now seems definitively behind her. This Saturday, Maja Chwalińska will face Mirra Andreeva in the final, with the certainty that a generous prize awaits her. The only question remaining is whether the 1.4 million euro prize will be doubled with a title victory.