The 2026 French Open women’s final kicks off at 11:00pm AEST this Saturday, presenting a fascinating matchup between two players who have taken completely opposite paths to reach the ultimate stage. We bring you our preview and best bet for the final below!
No. 8 seed Mirra Andreeva has enjoyed a dominant fortnight to book her maiden Grand Slam final appearance. The 19-year-old rising star has cruised through the draw, most recently outclassing Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 in the semi-finals to end the Ukrainian's 17-match winning streak.
Andreeva’s exceptional baseline coverage, powerful groundstrokes, and clinical point construction make her an incredibly tough assignment on the red dirt. She has dropped only one set all tournament, showcasing immense focus and maturity.
Across the net stands the ultimate tournament underdog, Maja Chwalinska. The 24-year-old Pole started her campaign ranked 114th in the world and had to battle through three gruelling rounds of qualifying just to make the main draw.
Nine matches later, she has become the first qualifier in tournament history to reach the Roland Garros singles final, mirroring Emma Raducanu's historic 2021 US Open run.
Chwalinska’s campaign has been no fluke. She has knocked out major tennis heavyweights including Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, Maria Sakkari, and Diana Shnaider, dropping only a single set along the way.
Her game relies on heavy top-spin, clever tactical variation, and excellent court movement. She excels at breaking up the pace of aggressive baseline hitters, using sharp angles, slices, and delicate drop shots to completely neutralise their rhythm.
While Andreeva represents a massive step up in consistency and depth, Chwalinska has the precise defensive tools to make this a highly physical, frustrating battle.
Expect the qualifier to test the Russian early. While Andreeva's raw power should ultimately get her over the line to secure her first Major, Chwalinska is playing with enough confidence and variety to keep this scoreline close and cover the large game handicap.
Maja Chwalinska +5.5 Games
$1.82 (1.5 Units)
