Maja Chwalinska could be in competition with Serena Williams for a Wimbledon wildcard.
Chwalinska has reached the Roland Garros final in a huge breakthrough run, becoming just the second qualifier in history to reach a major final after Emma Raducanu.
Due to her current ranking of world number 114, Chwalinska has given Wimbledon a big dilemma about whether to give her a wildcard, as she is only entered into qualifying.
When reacting to Chwalinska’s latest win, former world number one Andy Roddick has revealed if he thinks Wimbledon should give her a wildcard, as well as if he thinks they will if Williams also requests one.
Andy Roddick says if he thinks Maja Chwalinska will receive a Wimbledon wildcard
Williams is returning to professional tennis next week at Queen’s after nearly four years away from the WTA Tour, but it is currently unclear as to whether she plans to play singles at Wimbledon this year.
Although it is currently unknown as to whether she will request a wildcard, Roddick claimed that both Serena and Venus Williams will be given a wildcard over Chwalinska, despite hoping that the Roland Garros finalist is given one.
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“That conversation for Wimbledon is a tough one,” Roddick said in the latest edition of his ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘ podcast. “Serena decides to play, that is a wildcard gone. How many are you willing to give? They gave one to [Petra] Kvitova as a past champion last year. There is some star power that there is going to be a fight for wildcards.
“I can see them not doing it. If she wins the tournament it’s a different story, but I don’t know! Didn’t we see it last year, [Lois] Boisson did not get a wildcard. She made the semis.
“When Chwalinska put her wildcard request in it was before today, they said that she already put it in, Boisson didn’t get it last year with her run to the semis. If you are 25 in the world are you deserving? Yes, but she is not getting screwed out of a position if they don’t give it to her. That’s just not the way it works.
“And they would be taking a wildcard away from a British player potentially or taking a wildcard away from the ability to trade one. So if there is a British prospect, [Jack] Draper is not directly entered into the US Open right now.
“I know the genders don’t align but I’m using it as an example, if there is a Draper-like person they want to get into the US Open, they would reach out to the USTA and trade a wildcard and they’re in.
“She should get one for sure, it would be a great story. I hope she gets it. And she isn’t getting one over Serena if Serena decides to play. Venus has won that tournament five times, folks. I’m just saying, there is going to be a lot of attention for those wildcards.”
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Maja Chwalinska compared to Wimbledon champion after latest win
Chwalinska has impressed in her run at Roland Garros this year, with her unique left-handed game style causing her opponents many troubles in Paris.
While it is unclear as to whether she will be in the main draw of Wimbledon this year, Rennae Stubbs has compared Chwalinska to former champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Stubbs wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “She reminds me a bit of Marketa Vondrousova…they both have the ability to use that leftiness and variety to keep their opponents guessing on their shot selections. Remarkable story! Loving it….How good is tennis.”
As well as being a former Wimbledon champion, Vondrousova also reached the Roland Garros final in 2019, showing that Chwalinska’s game style could be effective on both natural surfaces.
Chwalinska will look to join Vondrousova as a Grand Slam champion, as she now plays Mirra Andreeva for the Roland Garros title on Saturday, June 6.