PARIS — The 2026 French Open women’s title is officially up for grabs by a newcomer. For the first time in years, all four semifinalists Diana Shnaider, Maja Chwalinska, Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva arrive without a major trophy on their stats.
Shnaider punched her ticket with the biggest win of her career so far, storming back to upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gritty clay court battle earlier this week. The Russian left hander now faces Poland’s Chwalinska, who has quietly rolled through the draw with relentless baseline play.
On the other side, Ukraine’s Kostyuk meets Russia’s teenage sensation Andreeva. Both have shown flashes of brilliance on the red dirt, but neither has ever gone this deep at a Slam.
The WTA’s official account captured the moment perfectly: “First-time Grand Slam champion loading.” No matter who emerges from Thursday’s semifinals, the champion on Saturday will be writing a fresh page in tennis history and proving once again that Paris in spring can rewrite the script overnight.