Has a Qualifier Ever Won a Grand Slam?

Maja Chwalinska is enjoying the best two weeks of her professional career, having already made history with an incredible run to the final in Paris.

Before the 2026 French Open, the Polish player had only one main-draw Grand Slam victory to her name: a straight-sets win against Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon in 2022.

The world number 114 had also won just two tour-level matches on clay before arriving in the French capital. However, Chwalinska has become one of the tournament's biggest stories thanks to a series of stunning performances.

Her journey began with a first-round victory over Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng. This was followed by wins against 23rd seed Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari, and home favorite Diane Parry to reach the quarterfinals.

With a 7-6, 6-3 victory over 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya, the 24-year-old became only the sixth female qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.

But her achievement didn't stop there. Chwalinska continued her dream run, moving to within one win of a fairytale triumph by defeating 25th seed Diana Shnaider 7-6, 6-4.

Now, the Pole will face Mirra Andreeva for the chance to cement her place in tennis history forever.

Has a qualifier ever won a Grand Slam singles title?

While Chwalinska continues to rewrite the history books, only one qualifier has ever managed to win a Grand Slam title.

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu stunned the tennis world by capturing the US Open title in 2021.

At just 18 years old, she broke several records on her way to a historic victory at Flushing Meadows.

In addition to being the fourth woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam as her first singles title, the youngest Grand Slam champion in 17 years, and the first British woman to win a major since 1977, Raducanu achieved all these milestones without dropping a single set.

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