A 24-year-old Polish tennis player arrived in Paris last week ranked 114th in the world, with no sponsors, no guaranteed income, and no certainty she could even pay for her hotel room.
She had to win three qualifying matches just to enter the French Open main draw. Prize money is only paid at the end of the tournament, so a Polish sports drink brand quietly stepped in and covered her hotel bill.
Her name is Maja Chwalinska. And today, she plays in the French Open final.
Before this tournament, she had won exactly one Grand Slam main draw match in her entire career. She had battled depression so severe that in 2021 she couldn't get out of bed. She underwent knee surgery in 2022. She spent years grinding through small tournaments across Europe just to stay afloat.
Then she arrived in Paris, won three qualifiers, and kept winning. Zheng Qinwen. Elise Mertens. Maria Sakkari. Diana Shnaider. Nine straight matches. One set dropped.
She is now the first qualifier in French Open history to reach the final. The last time a qualifier reached a Grand Slam final, it was Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open. Raducanu won.
By simply making the final, Chwalinska has earned more prize money than her entire career combined. The runner-up cheque alone is $1.6 million. If she wins today, she takes home $3.25 million.
One week ago she couldn't pay for her hotel room.
We do not often talk enough about the psychological trauma carried by victims of kidnapping.
Some months ago, I met a Catholic priest who had just been released after spending more than a month in captivity. Physically, he was free. But emotionally and psychologically, the experience was still haunting him.
You could not make sudden loud noises around him. Every sharp sound startled him because, to his mind, it felt like gunfire all over again. Fear had settled deeply into his nervous system. At the time, he was already undergoing therapy to help him recover from the trauma.
Sometimes, when we discuss kidnapping, we focus only on the period of captivity and ransom. But many victims continue suffering long after they regain their freedom. Some return home alive, yet deeply wounded within.
This is why insecurity is not just a political issue. It is also a human and psychological crisis.
💔 Every day is a struggle against kidney failure and rising medical bills. Please help me continue my treatment and keep fighting for a better tomorrow. ❤️🙏
https://t.co/59J6sJHh4P
She has had a mastectomy, sessions of chemo, just one more session of chemo before radio therapy starts she says
Please help Wemimo. We have come so far to give up.
Gofund me link in bio
Account number in Naria: 7082060371 OPay
Or 0420046536 Wema bank
Olore Helen Wemimo
I’ve just come across this post.
This elderly renowned surgeon has been abducted by kidnappers 4days ago and his abductors are demanding ransom payment of 70million naira.
Pls kindly help retweet this and tag all the relevant authorities who can help.
Pls 🙏🏿 I beg all of you.
My kidneys are failing, and I’m struggling to survive through constant dialysis and treatment costs.
Any support or share can help me keep fighting and give me hope. ❤️🙏
https://t.co/n7ZRaaUOfZ
It’s Day 2 of me begging to save my friend’s life.
Wemimo need about 2million Naria to get her next session of chemo
Please help me save Wemimo
Wemimo is a registered Nurse with a bright future
That's me and my brother David.
This is me and my brother David. He is 16. He cannot swallow his own saliva. Please help us save him. Account below. 🙏🏽
780k out of 3M
1792999730
Access Bank
Deborah Kelechi Michael
Please this girl was found around Capitol Road Agege,
She's currently in Dopemu Police Station.
She's unable to remember her name, or her parents name, she has no phone on her and hasn't been able to give any contact to the Police.
Please if anyone knows her, please visit Dopemu Police Station or call 09025621914
Please help reshare, she's someone's daughter, and sister.
CALL FOR HELP‼️‼️
On the 24th of May, a mother and son were kidnapped along Ijebu ode road. The kidnappers have reached out and are requesting *100 million naira* to secure their release. 🙏🙏
1232936022
Access bank
Shonoiki Aminat
kindly help reshare🙏
Hello everyone
This is a cry for help!!
I’m begging everyone to come to my aid. My mom is battling with stage 3 metastatic breast cancer, she’s yet to undergo chemo due to lack of funds. pls if you can't donate RT and share. I can't lose my mom. 🙏🏽❣️ https://t.co/Gr4apiI2bl
Dialysis is draining man, I'm literally on my knees. I need medication refill and food to get by. If you can spare something please help a brother. My number is 09098539701, 08079468065. Thank you. 🙏🏿