Maja Chwalinska becomes first qualifier since Emma Raducanu to reach Grand Slam final by beating Diana Shnaider in French Open semi-finals

Qualifier Maja Chwalinska continued her dream run as she beat Diana Shnaider to reach the French Open final, where she will face Mirra Andreeva.

Chwalinska - having only ever won one Grand Slam main-draw match before this tournament - battled to a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory against Shnaider, who upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

World No. 114 Chwalinska is the first qualifier to reach a major final since Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open.

She has lost just one set in her nine matches and said reaching the final was "like a dream".

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"Honestly, I don't know what is going on," said Chwalinska.

"It is so challenging to play against the best players in the world day by day. It is a Grand Slam, so you have to give your all and more."

Chwalinska fell to the floor in celebration after booking her spot in Saturday's final against eighth seed Andreeva, who beat Marta Kostyuk in straight sets earlier in the day.

"I watched Mirra Andreeva playing a bit before us, it was incredible," said Chwalinska.

"It is just another great experience for me. I will for sure give my all - it is a Grand Slam final."

Chwalinska was pushed all the way by Shnaider, who was competing in the latter stages of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

A hard-fought first set saw Chwalinska strike the first blow with a break to love to lead 3-1.

But Shnaider broke straight back after winning a lengthy backhand-to-backhand rally.

The pair continued to trade shots from the baseline, with Chwalinska firing a forehand winner into the corner to end a 20-shot rally.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Shnaider had two break-point chances in the 11th game but could not take them as Chwalinska held on and forced a tie-break.

Shnaider opened up a 4-2 advantage after winning a 22-shot rally but Chwalinska continued to battle and won five points in a row to take the set, which at 78 minutes lasted longer than the entire match between Andreeva and Kostyuk.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

The second set continued to be tight, with both players calling for medical timeouts due to the physical nature of the contest.

Chwalinska continued to look composed despite the occasion and a brilliant drop shot saw her break to lead 5-4.

She closed out the win in style with a forehand passing shot down the line, and then fell to the ground in delight.

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