Mirra Andreeva is just a win away from claiming her first Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open.
The Russian has hardly put a foot wrong in Paris, dropping just one set en route to the championship match, but now she will face a test she has never experienced before.
Andreeva‘s final opponent comes in the form of Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who is enjoying a fairytale run at Roland Garros.
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Chwalinska, ranked 114th in the world, had won just one Grand Slam match in her career prior to the tournament, but is now on the verge of becoming the second qualifier in the Open Era to win a major, following Emma Raducanu’s US Open 2021 triumph.
While Andreeva is the favourite heading into the bout, Serena Williams’ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, thinks the teenager will face a big mental obstacle.
Patrick Mouratoglou previews the women’s final at Roland Garros
“On paper, for Andreeva, not winning the final of Roland Garros is impossible,” said Mouratoglou in a post on Instagram.
“If you look at the level of Andreeva, the experience of Andreeva, forehand, the backhand, the serve, the movement, it’s impossible for her to lose that match. And that’s the danger.
“The big danger in that match, and if there is one possibility for Chwalinska to win it, it’s the expectations of Andreeva and the fact that she will not give herself the right to lose.
“When you don’t have the right to lose, because that would be a shame, the pressure goes to another level. That’s her first Grand Slam final.
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“She’s playing a girl who’s ranked 114 in the world and who, on paper, doesn’t have the weapons to beat her. She doesn’t have the right to fail. She will not give herself the right to fail.
“Andreeva is a very emotional player, which is a quality, but a flaw at the same time. Her mind can be her biggest enemy.
“We’ve seen this with Andreeva several times in the past. That’s basically the danger for her. The biggest opponent of Andreeva in this final is not Chwalinska; it’s Andreeva.”
Mirra Andreeva’s record in WTA Tour-level finals this year
Andreeva has already played in three finals this year, two of which she emerged victorious in.
At the beginning of the season, Andreeva won the Adelaide International, beating fellow teenage sensation Victoria Mboko in the title bout.
Months later, Andreeva reached the championship match in Linz, where she clinched her second title of 2026 by overcoming Anastasia Potapova.
Her most recent final appearance came on clay at the Madrid Open, but this time Andreeva came up short when faced with an in-form Marta Kostyuk.
Andreeva has already achieved so much at such a young age, and now she has a great chance to add a major trophy to the collection.
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