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.
One year ago today I was on Normandy beach thanking God for those men who stormed that beach, wave after wave, to free Europe from the Nazi Holocaust. This invasion brought the end of the Nazi reign and the end of the war less than a year later. My prayerful thanks to all the men and women who serve and protect this nation even today.
#DDay
U.S. authorities intercepted a sinking boat carrying 240 Haitian migrants attempting to illegally enter the United States.
The Coast Guard rescued them from the water, then sent every single one back where they belong.
Zero invaders entered the U.S. and the borders were held.
This is the way! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
BREAKING: Rochester Public Schools (@RPS535) in Minnesota to recognize the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha as a school holiday starting in the 2027-28 school year.
This will cancel all classes for students and staff.
It took federal indictments and pressure for any action against the fraud happening across our state.
When I am in the United States Senate, I will immediately cosponsor the Deporting Fraudsters Act.
Illegal immigrants who commit fraud will be deported, Americans convicted of fraud will face mandatory minimum sentences, and states will be required to implement safeguards before receiving federal tax dollars.
Good morning.☀️☕️
Respect is a choice,
kindness is a gift,
and healthy
boundaries are
a sign of wisdom.
Honor others,
honor yourself,
and walk in love today.
Ephesians 4:32 😊♥️🙏🏻
Some athletes act like the fans owe them something.
Sophie Cunningham acts like she owes the fans a moment.
That’s why people like me and others keep rooting for her.