This way into the second week!
Maja Chwalinska and Iga Swiatek are in the fourth round of a Grand Slam together for the first time. pic.twitter.com/sbuJRDzozv
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 30, 2026
When we were sorting through Polish players likely to advance to the round of 16 at Roland-Garros, I doubt that many (or any) of us picked Maja Chwalinska, but the world number 114, a qualifier in Paris, has made it to the final sixteen. Not only that, she did it by taking out Olympic gold medal winner Zheng Qinwen, 23rd seed Elise Mertens, and Maria Sakkari. Prior to this week, Chwalinska had never made it past the second round of a major.
Of special interest is that Chwalinska’s opponent in the round of 16 will be Frenchwoman Diane Parry; Parry upset 6th seed Amanda Anisimova in the third round.
Of course, Chwalinska will be joined by countrywoman Iga Swiatek, who has won Roland-Garros four times. Swiatek is seeded third at this tournament, and her round of 16 opponent will be Madrid champion Marta Kostyuk, who appears to have finally come into her own, and who should be a formidable opponent for the former world number 1.
The big news today as that defending champion Coco Gauff fell to Anastasia Potapova, who defeated her 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 in a long and thrilling match. Potapova is one of four Russians who have made it to the last sixteen. The othes are Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Mirra Andreeva.
Here is the round of 16 draw:
Aryna Sabalenka (1) v. Naomi Osaka (16)
Madison Keys (19) v. Diana Shnaider (25)
Anastasia Potapova (19) v. Anna Kalinskaya (22)
Maja Chwalinska v. Diane Parry
Elina Svitolina (7) v. Belinda Bencic (11)
Marta Kostyuk (15) v. Iga Swiatek (3)
Mirra Andreeva (8) v. Jil Teichmann
Sorana Cirstea (18) v. Wang Xiyu
In addition to Madrid champion Kostyuk, there are two other pre-Roland-Garros clay court winners: Svitolina won Rome, and Andreeva won Linz. Madrid and Rome are WTA 1000 events, Linz is a WTA 500 event. And Cirstea, of course, having announced her retirement, is on a roll that could take her anywhere.