Roland Garros 2026: The 19-Year-Old Russian Emerges Victorious in the Final

On Saturday, the 19-year-old Russian player triumphed in the final with a score of 6-3, 6-2 against Polish surprise Maja Chwalinska. This victory capped off a fortnight during which the world number 8 managed to handle the pressure better than other favorites.

While there are plenty of activities to enjoy in Paris, one must find ways to pass the time during a two-week stay. When not walking her coach's dog, Mirra Andreeva has developed a passion for diamond painting—a hobby that blends drawing and mosaic art without using any precious stones. She has also started collecting pins, especially those given by Roland Garros. "They give us one for each match we win, it motivates me, I want to collect many," the tennis player excitedly shared in the middle of the tournament.

She discovered that by collecting seven pins, she would earn a trophy! After her victory over the unexpected Polish finalist Maja Chwalinska (6-3, 6-2) on June 6, the Siberian player secured her first Grand Slam title at the age of 19, becoming the youngest player to win at Roland Garros since American Monica Seles, who won at 16 in 1990 and again at 18 in 1992. This victory was achieved without an anthem or flag, both banned from the French Open—and all other tournaments on the circuit—for Russian players since March 2022, following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.