French Open Prediction: Diana Shnaider vs Maja Chwalinska
11:35 AM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Diana Shnaider -189 / Maja Chwalinska +145
Diana Shnaider vs Maja Chwalinska Preview
Diana Shnaider reached the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career thanks to an improbable comeback in the quarterfinal against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Shnaider knocked out tournament favorite Sabalenka despite trailing by a set and a break. Sabalenka was two points from victory when she served for the match 5-4 up in the second set. But Shnaider hit winner after winner to turn the match on its head. She leveled by winning the second set 7-5 and won every game in the third set as Sabalenka capitulated. In the victory, Shnaider hit 25 winners and 27 unforced errors. She landed 75% of first serves in play and won 55% of first serve points (31/56). Shnaider hit 68% of second serve points (13/19) and saved one of five break points on her serve. Shnaider won an impressive 50% of return points (56/113) and broke Sabalenka’s serve seven times. Shnaider will contest her first major semifinal. It’s the second straight match that Shnaider has secured a bagel set, having beaten Keys by the same score in the deciding set in the fourth round.
Maja Chwalinska continued her dream run at the French Open as she looks to become the second woman to win a Grand Slam from qualifying. Chwalinska defeated 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets. The match took 22 games to decide. Chwalinska settled a 70-minute first set in a tiebreak, having squandered two set points at 5-2 and then 5-4 up. Neither player could hold serve decisively in the second set until the final few games, when Chwalinska broke Kalinskaya twice to complete a 7-6, 6-3 win.
Chwalinska finished the match with 24 winners and 15 unforced errors. She landed 80% of first serves in play and won 51% of first serve points (31/61). Chwalinska won 53% of second serve points (8/15) and saved 6 of 11 break points on her serve. Like Shnaider, Chwalinska will contest her first major semifinal.