Arizona Tribune - Chwalinska hopes historic French Open final run can inspire

Chwalinska became the first qualifier to reach the final at Roland Garros since the Open era began, but came up short in her bid for a historic Grand Slam crown as she lost to eighth seed Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 in the title-decider on Saturday.

After years on the lower-tier circuit, 24-year-old Chwalinska's charge to the final, in what was just her third main draw appearance at a major, has captivated the tennis world and catapulted the previously unheralded Pole into the spotlight.

But Chwalinska, who will break into the top 100 for the first time when she rockets to No. 21 in Monday's updated rankings, said it was a only a fine margin between the players at the top of the game and those further down the pecking order.

"I know many, many great players that are ranked outside top 100. You know, it's such a thin line now," Chwalinska told reporters.

"I wish them all the best. I hope that my story these last days was inspiring for them.

"Yeah, I'll see them in the, let's say, top 50 now."

Despite surpassing all expectations with her remarkable run in which she earned the first wins of her career against top 50-ranked players, including Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari, Anna Kalinskaya and Diana Shnaider, Chwalinska said she could play even better.

"Honestly, I didn't feel like I'm playing my best tennis, which is kind of weird," she said.

"I feel like I gained a lot of confidence, because I've never really played against the high-ranked players before. It was the very first time that I faced them.

"I will keep on working hard, as I am now... I will give my all to continue and to be a better player."

Chwalinska next has her sights set on Wimbledon, which prior to Roland Garros was the only Grand Slam in which she had recorded a main-draw win.

With her jump in the rankings coming too late for the Wimbledon entry list, she admitted that she does not "expect" a wildcard to the tournament but will "give my all" if she has to go through qualifying once again.

Before turning her attention to the grass though, she revealed that she plans on taking some well-earned rest.

"I'm not going to play anything before grass -- before Wimbledon, that's for sure," she said.

"I definitely need some time to recharge. Even before Roland Garros, I said that I needed vacation after the tournament. So now it's (been) three weeks that I'm kind of, like, not waiting, because I wanted to be here, but I just knew in my head that I'm going for vacation after the French Open."

M.King--AT