The Grand Slam showdown between a "teenage powerhouse" and a "qualifier" ended in victory for the teenager. Mirra Andreeva, 19 (ranked No. 8, Russia), claimed the women's singles title at the 2026 French Open (total prize money of 61.723 million euros).
Andreeva defeated Maja Chwalinska (ranked No. 114, Poland) 2-0 (6-3, 6-2) in 1 hour and 22 minutes in the women's singles final at Roland-Garros in Paris on Saturday. It was her first career Grand Slam title. She became the tournament's youngest women's singles champion since Monica Seles (United States), who completed three consecutive French Open titles at age 18 in 1992. The winner's prize money was 2.8 million euros (about 5.03 billion won).
Andreeva, who turned professional in 2022, had previously won five Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour titles but had no Grand Slam victories. At the French Open, she had reached the round of 32 in 2023, the semifinals in 2024, and the quarterfinals last year.
Andreeva grew stronger under coach Conchita Martinez (Spain), who has been with her since 2024. Martinez, who won Wimbledon in 1994 during her playing career, taught Andreeva how to stay composed even in major tournaments. Andreeva's mental maturity bore fruit in her first Grand Slam title.
The early exchanges between the two players were tight. However, Andreeva began to pull ahead in power and shot accuracy from late in the first set. After taking the first set 6-3, Andreeva raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set to secure the title. Chwalinska won the next two games in a row but could not turn the match around.
After clinching championship point with a backhand that cut diagonally across the court, Andreeva sat down on the court and buried her face in her hands. She then ran to coach Martinez and embraced her, sharing the emotional moment.
"I've watched Roland-Garros on TV since I was very young. Winning this tournament was my dream, and I can't believe I'm holding this trophy," Andreeva said joyfully.
