WUHAN -- Maja Chwalinska felt the pressure of her success at Roland Garros after the tournament ended, where she advanced from qualifying to the final and rose from No. 114 to No. 21 in the rankings. She described her feelings during the North American Hard-Court swing as "miserable" as expectations from social media and the press became overwhelming.
Read More
Following an injury at Wimbledon that led to a first-round loss, she struggled to find her footing, winning only one match before another early exit at the US Open. "It was very tough for me," Chwalinska told wtatennis.com after her victory in Wuhan. She noted the significant change in her life off the court: "Tennis stays the same, but off court it's just so much different. Great things are happening, but also it's just different with the attention, with the media. Everyone can speak and it's very challenging."
After taking time to adjust, Chwalinska found renewed focus during the Singapore leg of her season, where she posted a 9-2 record since arriving in Asia. This culminated in her victory at the Dongfeng • Voyah Wuhan Open, adding a WTA 1000 title to her breakthrough year.
Chwalinska emphasized that her Wuhan win reinforced her belief ignited at Roland Garros that she could compete at the highest level across all surfaces. Reflecting on her earlier struggles, she said, "I needed to admit [after French Open] was very tough for me, but I kept working really hard. I'm just very grateful that my work paid off today."
In a discussion with wtatennis.com, she explored her evolving belief in her game: "I wasn't sure if my game can compete against the best of the world because it's not very common." She acknowledged feelings of vulnerability but believed in her capabilities across surfaces.
Ranked No. 11 now, Chwalinska plans to stay focused on improvement rather than rankings. "I just want to give my best, just want to win every single match and have no regrets," she stated.
Regarding her nickname from fans in China, "Moon sister," she humorously responded, "Honestly, why not?" Reflecting on her journey with fellow Polish player Iga Swiatek, she expressed gratitude for her progress, acknowledging Swiatek's dominance in the sport. Their shared history adds a unique chapter to both their careers, particularly as they grew up competing in the same tournaments.
Chwalinska's experiences highlight her resilience and dedication as she continues her journey on the WTA Tour.