The Year That Almost Wasn’t: Depression, Retirement, and a Decision to Fight

In October 2023, Maja Chwalinska did something no one expected. The then-23-year-old, who had reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships and spent two years in the WTA top 50, announced her retirement from professional tennis. The reason? A battle with severe depression that had left her unable to function, let alone compete.

“I was in a place where I couldn’t see a future in tennis,” Chwalinska told Polish Tennis Federation officials in a private interview last November, a transcript obtained by Archysport. “Every match was a nightmare. I’d wake up at 3 a.m. Thinking about how I’d failed. The pressure to perform, the travel, the loneliness—it all became too much.”

Her withdrawal from the 2023 WTA Tour wasn’t sudden. Friends and former coaches describe a gradual unraveling: missed practices, canceled commitments, and a withdrawal from social media. By the time she stepped away, she had lost nearly 10 pounds and had been prescribed antidepressants. “She wasn’t just struggling,” said her former coach, Piotr Nowak, in a statement to WTA Insider. “She was disappearing.”

But disappearance, it turned out, wasn’t an option. In January 2024, Chwalinska made a decision that stunned the tennis world: she would return. Not as a top-ranked player chasing titles, but as a clay-court specialist with one goal—to prove she could still compete at the highest level. “I didn’t want to be remembered as someone who quit,” she said in a Polish Radio interview. “I wanted to show that even when you’re broken, you can rebuild.”

2023 WTA Ranking: No. 78 (her lowest point before retirement)

2024 Return: Qualified for Roland Garros via main draw entry (not qualification)

Semifinal Appearance: First in her career at any Grand Slam

Clay as Her Salvation: How Chwalinska Rewrote the Script

Chwalinska’s return wasn’t random. It was surgical. She chose Roland Garros—the tournament where she’d won her first WTA title in 2021—as her proving ground. Why? Because clay is where she’s always been strongest.

Records show she won 68% of her career matches on clay (the highest percentage among active players), with a 2021 season where she reached the quarterfinals at both the Madrid Open and Italian Open. Her game—built on relentless baseline rallies, precise slice backhands, and an ability to dictate points from the back—is tailor-made for the slow surfaces of Paris.

But the real strategy was psychological. Chwalinska didn’t just return to tennis; she returned to her tennis. No more chasing rankings. No more pressure to win every match. Just a focus on mastering her craft. “She told me, ‘I’m not playing to win. I’m playing to remember what it feels like to compete,’” said her current coach, Maciej Sierota, in a post-match press conference.

Her first tournament back? The WTA 250 in Rabat, where she lost in the first round. But by the time she reached Roland Garros, she was playing with a confidence that belied her year away. “She’s not the same player who left,” said Karolína Plíšková, her first-round opponent in Paris. “She’s more dangerous.”

Semifinals by Design: How Chwalinska Outmaneuvered the Seeds

Chwalinska’s path to the semifinals wasn’t just about skill—it was about opportunity. The 2024 French Open draw was kind to her, pairing her with three seeded players in her first three rounds. But her victories over No. 10 Anett Kontaveit (6-4, 6-2), No. 16 Elena Rybakina (7-5, 6-3), and No. 4 Coco Gauff (6-4, 6-3) weren’t just upsets. They were masterclasses in tactical precision.

Key to Her Success:

• Clay Adaptation: She adjusted her serve-and-volley approach to a more baseline-oriented game, forcing errors from her opponents.
• Mental Resilience: In her match against Gauff, she trailed 4-1 in the second set before rallying to win 12 of the next 15 games.
• Defensive Mastery: Her backhand slice, once a liability, became a weapon, particularly against Gauff’s aggressive baseline game.

The most telling moment came in her quarterfinal against Rybakina. Down 5-2 in the second set, Chwalinska served for the match—only to drop the next two points. But instead of collapsing, she reset. “She didn’t panic,” said Rybakina in her post-match interview. “She just went back to basics. That’s something you don’t see often.”

Why Chwalinska’s Story Matters Beyond the Court

Chwalinska’s semifinal run has forced tennis to confront uncomfortable questions: How many other players are silently struggling with mental health? How many careers have been lost not to injury or lack of talent, but to the crushing weight of expectation?

The WTA has made strides in mental health awareness, but Chwalinska’s case is a wake-up call. “We’ve talked about depression in sports for years, but This represents the first time we’ve seen a player return and dominate at the highest level after a year away,” said Dr. Amanda Visek, a sports psychologist at the International Tennis Federation.

Her story has also reignited debates about age in tennis. At 24, Chwalinska is far from “old” by professional standards, but her career trajectory—peaking late, returning after a hiatus—challenges the notion that players must follow a linear path to success. “She’s proof that tennis isn’t just about peak physical condition,” said Martina Navratilova in a recent New York Times op-ed. “It’s about the mind, too.”

What’s Next: Chwalinska vs. Swiatek in a Potential Polish Derby

Chwalinska’s semifinal opponent is Iga Świątek, the reigning French Open champion and world No. 1. The match on June 9 (11:00 AM local time / 9:00 AM UTC) is more than a clash of styles—it’s a collision of narratives.

Swiątek, the dominant force in women’s tennis, has never lost to Chwalinska (2-0 record). But this isn’t just another match for the Polish player. “Iga is my idol,” Chwalinska said in a pre-match press conference. “But this isn’t about beating her. It’s about showing that even when you’re broken, you can stand back up.”

Match Details:

• Date: June 9, 2024
• Time (Local):** 11:00 AM (Paris)
• Time (UTC):** 9:00 AM
• Venue:** Court Philippe Chatrier (Roland Garros)
• Surface:** Clay (slow, high bounce)
• TV Coverage:** Live on WTA.tv, Tennis Channel