On Philippe Chatrier court, Andreeva experienced a tense start in her first Grand Slam final. The Russian player made repeated errors against Chwalinska's varied play, falling behind 2-3 in the opening set.

However, the turning point came when Andreeva held a crucial service game to level the score. From that moment, the eighth seed steadily controlled the match with early hits from the baseline and precise ball placement. She won 10 consecutive games, turning the tide before closing out the match in 1 hour and 28 minutes.

Andreeva celebrates her Roland Garros championship on Philippe Chatrier court, Paris, France on 6/6. Photo: *Reuters*

Chwalinska entered the match following a fairytale run, becoming the first qualifier in Roland Garros history to reach the final. However, the Polish player could not create another upset against a superior opponent.

In strong winds and on a slow court, Chwalinska tried to create difficulty with slices, drop shots, and constant changes in pace. This tactic was effective early on, making Andreeva hesitant and causing her to lose initiative. But as the match progressed, the Russian player demonstrated the composure of a top contender.

The Roland Garros title makes Andreeva the youngest champion in Paris since Monica Seles won in 1992. At age 19, she is also the third youngest Grand Slam champion in the 21st century, after Maria Sharapova and Emma Raducanu.

Andreeva is considered one of the most prominent talents in women's tennis today. After gaining recognition at age 15, the Russian player was highly regarded for her technical skill but often struggled with emotional control in major matches. This Roland Garros victory marks her growth in both mental strength and competitive spirit.

In addition to her first career Grand Slam title, Andreeva received 3,248 million USD in prize money, exceeding the 2,9 million USD Coco Gauff received for winning Roland Garros last year.

Despite standing on the podium in Paris, the Russian player did not hear her national anthem during the trophy ceremony. Since 3/2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus have only been allowed to participate in international tournaments as neutral competitors due to sanctions related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

On the other side of the net, Chwalinska could not complete her fairytale with a championship, but her journey is still considered one of the biggest surprises in Roland Garros history.

Andreeva (left) and Chwalinska on the awards podium after the Roland Garros final on Philippe Chatrier court, Paris, France on 6/6. Photo: *Reuters*

Before the tournament began, the Polish player was ranked 114th in the world. She had to win three qualifying matches to enter the main draw, then successively defeated several strong opponents to reach the final. Chwalinska became the first qualifier in Roland Garros history to reach the title match, and also the lowest-ranked player to achieve this feat.

Despite losing in the final, Chwalinska still received 1,624 million USD in prize money. This amount is nearly double her total career earnings before this year's Roland Garros, which stood at just over 864,000 USD.

Vy Anh