Mirra Andreeva marches to French Open title and it should be the first of many

Mirra Andreeva marches to French Open title and it should be the first of many Last updated 06 June 2026 4:45pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Mirra Andreeva celebrates with the trophy after her final win over Maja Chwalinska Credit: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane Sonia Twigg at Roland Garros. Fiona Tomas live updates Last updated 06 June 2026 4:45pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Mirra Andreeva held her nerve against the unpredictability of qualifier Maja Chwalinska and the windy conditions to become the first Russian woman to win a grand slam since Maria Sharapova in 2014. The match itself might not be one for the ages. In fact, it felt at times like there had not been a slower one since the days of wooden rackets, but it was no less intriguing nor interesting, as Andreeva won 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 22 minutes. As Andreeva sunk to her knees and covered her face in celebration before running up the stairs and into her box, she had managed to achieve what she had been tipped to do since she won her first tour match as a 15-year-old. Now she stands as the youngest French Open champion since Monica Seles in 1992 – and she will be tipped to win many more grand slam titles. Andreeva is also the first Russian, male or female, to win a grand slam since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Chwalinska’s fairytale route to the final captured the imagination, having been a 500-1 outsider at the start of the tournament. The Polish player, who is the daughter of a coal miner and had to put out a public plea for help paying her hotel bill, became only the second qualifier in history to reach a final after Emma Raducanu. Mirra Andreeva shakes hands with Maja Chwalinska after winning the final Credit: Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane Ranked 114th in the world, she had won only one match at a grand slam previously, at Wimbledon in 2022, and had never reached a tour final. With a style that she admits can be “annoying” for her opponents, Chwalinska constantly changes things up, often going for the lofted shots while relying on tenacity and ability to read the ball. Andreeva took her time to get used to it. The first four games of the match were breaks, but once she started to take hold of the match, she never let it go. Instead of the exchange of moonballs which dominated the first set, as Andreeva grew in confidence she started to step into the court, taking the ball earlier and finding winners with ease. Andreeva celebrates with her coach Conchita Martinez Credit: Benoit Tessier/Reuters Chwalinska, who had not played a top 20 player on her route to the final, was unable to find an answer to the power of Andreeva in the same way she had against Diana Shnaider and Anna Kalinskaya. Latest updates Sonia Twigg at Roland Garros. Fiona Tomas live updates 4:41PM That’s all from us Link copied to clipboard Thanks for joining our live coverage this afternoon - we’ll be back tomorrow for the men’s final from 1pm. 4:40PM Andreeva celebrates with her coach Link copied to clipboard 26 years ago, Conchita Martinez was playing the Roland-Garros final but the Spaniard and former Wimbledon winner deserves huge credit for her role she has played in Andreeva’s development. You can expect to see more of this double act.  Andreeva celebrates with her coach, Conchita Martinez Credit: Stephane Mahe/REUTERS 4:17PM Security confiscates Russian flag Link copied to clipboard When Mirra Andreeva’s win was confirmed, there was at least one banned Russian flag unfurled in the stands. The one right in front of the press box was draped around a man’s shoulders for a good few minutes before security arrived and instructed him to put it away. As Andreeva celebrated her win, a pair of fans inside Chatrier whipped out and waved a Russian flag to celebrate Andreeva's country. A #RolandGarros security guard quickly swooped in and had them put it away in the guy's purse. pic.twitter.com/UfzI0h3m1Y — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 6, 2026 4:16PM Andreeva is crowned the queen of clay Link copied to clipboard In her excitement, Andreeva accidentally lifts the trophy in the wrong position and judging by the look on her face, is slightly mortified. In front of a sea of photographers, she moves into the correct position and re-lifts her silverware. “Congrats to Maja for an amazing three weeks. You and your team have done an amazing job. You’re a very tricky opponent and I wouldn’t want to play you again. Best of luck for the rest of the season. “I’ve been watching RG on TV since I was very young, so it was a big dream of mine to win this tournament. “Thanks to my team - I know I can be a tough cookie sometimes. Thank you to Conchita for sharing her experiences with me and for giving me so much advice.” In a nice touch, she then continues in French, before deciding it’s too troublesome and switches back to English. Great effort, though. “I want to thank myself, for believing in myself. Only I know how tough it was for me and how nervous I was during these two weeks.” She rounds off her champion speech in Russian. Mirra Andreeva after her premature trophy lift Credit: Guglielmo Mangiapane/REUTERS Mirra Andreeva with the Suzanne-Lenglen trophy Credit: TERESA SUAREZ/EPA/Shutterstock 4:08PM Chwalinska receives her trophy Link copied to clipboard She’s been a pillar of composure all tournament, havi “Hello everyone. First of all, congrats to Mirra, you’re so young and talented, it’s so annoying. Congrats to you and your team and best of luck for the future,” she says, before thanking the umpires and ball kids. “Thank you to my team and my family. I know I’m not easy to be around sometimes but thanks for sticking with me. I would like to thank you guys for supporting me over the three weeks, I felt your love. “I wish you could have seen a better match today, but Mirra was too good. I tried my best, I’m sorry. I definitely won’t forget these three weeks, Paris will be in my heart. Merci.” Maja Chwalinska with her runners-up trophy Credit: Benoit Tessier/REUTERS 4:04PM The trophy ceremony begins Link copied to clipboard France’s Mary Pierce, who defeated Conchita Martínez in the 2000 French Open final, will present the Suzanne Lenglen trophy to Mirra Andreeva. There’s warm applause from the crowd as a montage of that day over a quarter of a century ago is shown on the big screen.   3:57PM GAME, SET, MATCH, ANDREEVA! Link copied to clipboard Queen of Clay! 👑 Mirra Andreeva wins her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros as she defeats Maja Chwalinska 6-3 6-2 pic.twitter.com/Ln8LjqlgH2 — TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 6, 2026 The teenager has done it! She wraps up another game and is this year’s French Open champion! She appears locked in again and rediscover her composure. She sails into a 0-30 lead, constructing a fine forehand winner for the latter point. With a sense of inevitability.. Chwalinksa nets..and this is it. Championship point for the Russian… and she finishes with a flourish, nailing a crunching forehand winner. Mirra Andreeva is a Grand Slam champion! She beats Maja Chwalinksa 6-3, 6-2.  The teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva is Roland-Garros Champion 2026 🏆 pic.twitter.com/EWdyL0MuPF — TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 6, 2026   3:47PM Chwalinska 3-6 2-5 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Wow, a messy game that from Andreeva, which chimes with this year’s chaotic French Open. Was she already thinknig about lifting that trophy? She coughs up a flurry of unforced errors as Chwalinska brings up an unexpected break point. Andreeva shanks a forehand return wide and the Pole claws back another game to put Andreeva’s celebrations on ice.   3:41PM Chwalinska 3-6 1-5 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Can Chwalinksa avoid being bagelled here? Andreeva, who is perhaps already thinking about the finish line, sends a forehand into the net, 15-0. She then hits long, 30-0, and again, 40-0. Chwalinska, being egged on by the Roland Garros crowd, needs to capitalise here, but she wallops a forehand high and wide. 40-15. Andreeva continues chiselling into her game and she forces the Pole into another error, 40-30. She pushes a forehand into the far corner and this time it’s too much for Andreeva, who manages to get her racket to it but hits wide. Finally, the Pole is on the board in this second set but it’s too little, too late. 3:37PM Chwalinska 3-6 0-5 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Andreeva continues to assert her dominance and strolls into a 40-15, unsettling a tired-looking Chwalinska. The Russian momentarily loses her concentration by shewing a volley into the net, but the Pole cannot stop the rot. Andreeva once again effortlessly holds and she’s now one game away from becoming a Grand Slam champion. 3:33PM Chwalinska* 3-6 0-4 Andreeva Link copied to clipboard Chwalinska needs to break this losing streak - she hasn’t won a game now in 37 minutes. Andreeva, meanwhile, is playing in uninhibited freedom, as she comes up with another winner. This slow, slice-heavy game that Chwalinska has used to chip away at her previous opponents is not having any effect on Andreeva, who sails into a 0-40 lead. Has she got anything left in her locker to hurt her with? As she mishits another forehand high and wide - sinking into the red clay in the process - it appears not. 3:30PM Chwalinska 3-6 0-3 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Andreeva pushes what should have been an easy winner down the centre of the court long, before netting. Chwalinska then brings up her formidable drop shot, which beats a scrambling Andreeva. The Russian then nets - 0-40 - which means Chwalinska has three break points - Andreeva salvages them all after more erroneous long ball striking from the Pole - and we’re level on deuce. She continues to stretch Chwalinska in the next rally before tucking away another forehand winner. From 0-40, Andreeva storms back to break Chwalinska again. Has that extinguished the slither of hope the Pole might have had? 3:25PM Chwalinska* 3-6 0-2 Andreeva Link copied to clipboard Andreeva continues to come inside the baseline to take Chwalinska’s high balls early to great effect. 0-30. A huge cheer around Philippe-Chatrier as Chwalinska puts away a forehand winner, 15-30, but again hits beyond the baseline, 15-40. Two break points for the Russian, who in turn pushes a forehand long, 30-40. Patient phase play from the Pole, who forces Andreeva to hit wide again to bring up deuce, but she then shanks a forehand into the dramlines. Advantage Andreeva. Chwalinska hits long - there’s a late umpire call - and that’s another break for the Russian. It already looks a long way back now for Chwalinska. 3:18PM Chwalinska 3-6 0-1 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Andreeva gets the second set underway but watches a forehand effort drift into the tramlines. 0-15. Chwalinska looks to stretch Andreeva with a series of long strikes.. but she makes two unforced errors. The first is a simple net shot, the second she sends one of her loopy forehands long. 40-15. Andreeva looks really in the zone and in the end it’s an easy hold - that’s five games in a row now for the Russian. 3:13PM Brad Pitt is in the house Link copied to clipboard Brad Pitt and his girlfriend Ines de Ramon watch on Credit: Benoit Tessier/REUTERS 3:12PM Tough conditions Link copied to clipboard The wind is so strong that someone in the box behind the server has just had to race down the stairs to retrieve their hat. That will certainly be contributing to the way this match is panning out. 3:11PM Chwalinska* 3-6 Andreeva Link copied to clipboard Andreeva is really getting on top of her ball striking now and she’s causing her opponent all sorts of problems. A small shake of the head from Chwalinksa as she pummels a backhand effort wide, 0-40. Andreeva has three break points but seals the deal at the first time of asking with another confident forehand winner. She takes the first set and is one step closer to becoming a Grand Slam champion. Mirra takes the first set 6-3! pic.twitter.com/SIx6ngZwVF — TNT Sports (@tntsports) June 6, 2026 3:08PM Chwalinska 3-5 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Back on top, Andreeva sinks her teeth into her service game - Chwalinksa sends a few huge lobs which somehow land inside the baseline before mis-hitting her forehand into the net. You sense Andreeva is settling into a rhythm now - the Rissoian stabs a forehand winner through.. And she’s getting on top of the rallies. In tough conditions, she mounts a 40-15 lead and is ready for when Chwalinska comes up with her trademark drop shot.. She retrieves it and then reaches for the Pole’s mini lob to smash down a winner. She’s on a three-game winning streak.. 3:04PM Chwalinska* 3-4 Andreeva Link copied to clipboard Chwalinska smashes down a volley before hitting long, 15-15. Andreeva bides her time in the next rally, stretching the Pole defensively before walloping down with a volley of her own, 15-30, which musters a positive reply from the Pole. Chwalinska puts too much on a forehand effort and it falls long, 30-40. Break point. Andreeva keeps responding to her loopy ball striking from the back of the court and the Pole overdoes it with some backhand slice and nets. Andreeva breaks again to take the lead - but can she capitalise? 2:58PM A unique final so far Link copied to clipboard This tennis match is so different to what anyone might have expected from a women’s final. It might look as slow as the days of wooden rackets, but that does not make it any less intriguing or interesting. But it is certainly different. 2:58PM Chwalinska 3-3 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard This time Andreeva comes up with the drop shot-lob combo and it works a treat, as Chwalinska hits high out of the court, 15-0. More looped forehands from Chwalinska - she’s getting quite the shape and height on those shots - but Andreeva is responding with a taste of her own medicine and forces the Pole to net, 30-0. Chwalinska showcases some patient point construction and boxes Andreeva into a corner again as the Russian hits wide.. 30-15, before coming out on top in the next rally of more looped exchanges. She rounds off with an ace to hold. 2:53PM Chwalinska* 3-2 Andreeva Link copied to clipboard Two unforced errors from Andreeva, 30-0, before Chwalinska comes up with her winning combination with a drop shot and lob, to the approval of the crowd, 40-0. The Pole proceeds to box Andreeva into a corner of the court with a flurry of fierce forehands.. She wrong foots the Russian and she holds to love! A first hold of this match. She fist pumps and walks calmly to her chair. 2:50PM Chwalinska 2-2 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Chwalinska continues peppering Andreeva with her looped forehands and wins the opening point, 0-15 before hitting wide, 15-15. This time Andreeva, rather uncharacteristically, double faults, 15-30, but responds with some great ball placement in the corner with a forehand winner, 30-30. More high balls in the blustery wind are sent the Russian’s way which prove particularly disruptive for her and it’s Chwalinska who breaks! Four games, four breaks of serve so far. 2:46PM Chwalinska* 1-2 Andreeva Link copied to clipboard Oops, more jitters from Chwalinska, who double faults for the second time in this match, before responding with a venomous forehand winner, 15-15. Andreeva builds patiently and constructs another fine winner, 15-30. She brings up two break points after Chwalinska sends down a tame second serve. The Pole friends off the first after Andreeva watches a backhand effort drift wide, but she concedes the break after completely mishitting the ball after good hustling from Andreeva. 2:40PM Chwalinska 1-1 Andreeva* Link copied to clipboard Chwalinska, now with the wind behind her after the players have switched sides. starts strongly with a solid forehand winner. Andreeva hits it wide, 0-30. Andreeva comes out on top in the next rally with a gently stroked shot over the net - but inconsistency creeps in again and she hits long. 15-40, two break points for Chwalinska, but the Pole pushes a long forehand beyond the baseline, 30-40. Chwalinksa keeps clawing back balls in the next rally and she breaks back after Andreeva hits long again. 2:35PM Chwalinska* 0-1 Andreeva (denotes server) Link copied to clipboard A nervy start for Chwalinksa, who begins by double faulting, but wins a great second point after keeping Andreeva behind the baseline. 15-15. Andreeva hits long, 15-30, before Chwalinska unleashes the drop shot that she has built her reputation on here at Roland Garros these past few weeks. Andreeva reads it perfectly and replies with a low passing shot which beats the Pole. 30-30. Another drop shot from Chwalinksha - this time it’s too much for Andreeva, 40-30, but then the Pole hits long. Deuce. In the ensuing rally the ball sits up for Andreeva and she wallops a fine winner - break point - but she can’t capitalise as Chawalinska brings her to the net with some soft hands and executes brilliantly. Deuce again. The Pole tries her luck again with a third drop shot but it drifts wide.. She responds by tucking away a winner to level the score again. Andreeva ends another rally with a confident forehand winner to bring up a second break point - she’s looking for the pace and power - and backs that up with another fine return to break! A lengthy opening game.    2:26PM Players are finishing their warm-up Link copied to clipboard ..and we should be underway shortly. 2:21PM Polish fans out in force Link copied to clipboard I didn’t realise until Maja Chwalinska walked out onto Philippe-Chatrier just how many Poland fans there are in the crowd. I noticed a few scarves and flags earlier but they are in almost every corner, and her reception was a lot more emphatic than the one Mirra Andreeva received. 2:20PM The players walk out.. Link copied to clipboard ...into the bowels of the stadium to a huge roar. She’s sporting a pale yellow top with black shorts, carrying her bright pink kit bag. Intriguingly, she is wearing sponsored kit, which she hasn’t been doing for most of this tournament.. because she didn’t have a kit sponsor. Looks focused and calm, but she is sporting heavy strapping to her left thigh. Andreeva follows her in a pale pink outfit and matching cap and gives a wave to the crowd.  2:15PM Players ready to walk out Link copied to clipboard TNT’s coverage has panned to the locker room, where both players are going through some priming drills before walking out onto court Philippe-Chatrier in froint of 15,000. They both looked locked in and both showcasing some impeccable juggling skills.  2:03PM Roof open, alors on danse Link copied to clipboard The almost-15,000 seater-stadium is filling up quickly now, and surprisingly the roof is open. The sky looks very grey and it has rained on and off all day so far, but they have decided to start with it open. Henry Patten said after his men’s doubles final defeat that the court played very heavy and slow, but the roof was shut for that. Before the players emerge though there will be a contemporary dance ceremony. 1:57PM Elsewhere today at Roland Garros.. Link copied to clipboard British tennis player Henry Patten and partner Harri Heliovaara were beaten in the French Open final, but have ensured they will be the world No 1 pairing after the tournament. Patten and Heliovaara had not dropped a set in the entire tournament. In fact, they had won every single one of their matches with the exact same scoreline: 6-3, 6-4. But the final was always going to be a different prospect against defending champions Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers, who claimed the first set 6-4, and the second 6-2. Court Philippe-Chatrier was opened up to those with grounds passes who almost filled the lower tier of the stands. Under a closed roof, conditions which Patten and Heliovaara are accustomed to coming from the United Kingdom and Finland, they lost points at key moments. From 0-3 behind in the second set, there was no way back into the contest. In the wheelchair doubles, Britain’s Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won their seventh successive French Open wheelchair doubles trophy, with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Martin de la Puente and Stephane Houdet. 1:56PM Tim’s backing Andreeva Link copied to clipboard In the TNT studio, Tim Henman feels the Russian teenager is ready to claim her first Grand Slam on her first attempt given the way her game has developed in recent years and the level of maturity she shows on the court.   “The work that she’s done physically and she’s so strong and athletic. Her ball striking from the back of the court. She’s been serving at nearly 200km/hour. Chwalinska is smart and classy, and she’s comfortable with finishing her points at the net.. but you look at this and it points to an Andreeva victory.”   1:49PM The numbers.. Link copied to clipboard .. which put Chwalinska’s dizzying run into context. Before this year’s Roland Garros the 24-year-old’s career earnings stood at £650,000 and she has already tripled that in Paris. If she loses today’s final, she will be guaranteed a £1.2 million pay check. If she wins, that would rise to £2.4 million.    1:42PM Can Chwalinksa take inspiration from Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph? Link copied to clipboard Chris Evert, speaking as a pundit on TNT’s coverage, has played down the parallels between the pair.  I think this is a little different in that Emma had some results before - Emma reached the fourth round of Wimbledon.  Maja’s going to have to shorten the rallies, look to drop shot and get Mirra off the baseline, where she’s dominating. She’ll have to bring her in with that drop shot and lob - that combination has served her so well.”  1:30PM The stage is set Link copied to clipboard Where dreams are made… or broken 💥 Chwalinska 🆚 Andreeva ⚡️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/AkFUnsOOqF — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2026 1:28PM Chwalinska’s terrific Roland Garros run Link copied to clipboard The Pole’s mesmeric run at Roland Garros has come out of nowhere and that’s what has made her so fun to watch. The 24-year-old has kept a lid on her emotions throughout her deep run in Paris but looked visibly shocked after her on-court interview after her semi-final win. Staggering to think that before this tournament she had never received direct entry into the main draw of a major and had only come through Grand Slam qualifying in two of her previous 14 attempts. Maja Chwalinksa is lost for words over her #RolandGarros semis win 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Fgf7tUpoz1 — TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 4, 2026 1:13PM Hello and welcome Link copied to clipboard Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Maja Chwalinska v Mirra Andreeva in the women’s French Open final. What a tantalising match-up this promises to be. Poland’s Chwalinksa, the world number 114 has stunned Roland Garros these past two weeks after coming through qualifying and is one win away from a fairytale triumph. If she succeeds, she will write her name into the history books by becoming only the second qualifier in the Open Era to win a major after Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open victory. It would also provide a fitting ending to a French Open that has been defined by chaos and shock results. Less than a week ago, Chwalinska was jokingly asking for help paying for a hotel room, but as she sank onto the red brick dust of Philippe-Chatrier after clinching a place in the final, she tripled her career earnings during her time in the French capital. “Let’s not pretend someone expected it,” she said after her 7-6, 6-4 semi-final win over Diana Shnaider. “I was outside the top 100, and now I’m in the finals of a grand slam, so I feel like it’s a big thing. So it’s hard to process it.” But 19-year-old Andreeva, the world number eight, stands in the Pole’s way. Should the in-form teenager come out on top this afternoon, she will be the first Russian to win a major since her country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A semi-finalist at Roland Garros two years ago, Andreeva would also become the third-youngest first-time Grand Slam champion this century, after Maria Sharapova and Raducanu. Her first Grand Slam appearance was always going to come sooner rather than later. Ever since she burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old and reached the Wimbledon fourth round, Andreeva has been one of the brightest young stars in the sport. However this one pans out it promises to be an intriguing contest between a player who has emerged from relative obscurity or an established teenage star who seems born for the big stage.