NBO in Focus: Andreeva Wins Maiden Grand Slam…

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Welcome to NBO in Focus. Every week, we will keep you updated on all the action on the WTA Tour as we build towards the National Bank Open in Toronto, which takes place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 13.

Days until National Bank Open: 53

Andreeva’s Shining Moment

At just 19-years-old, Mirra Andreeva had been knocking on the doors of a Roland-Garros title. On Saturday, she finally got her hands on the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.

The new world No. 6 cruised once she hit her third-straight Roland-Garros quarter-final, conceding just 12 games in her final three matches. In the quarters, Andreeva defeated No.18 seed Sorana Cirstea in under an hour before putting an end to Marta Kostyuk’s clay-court unbeaten streak to reach her maiden major final.

The teen capped off her tournament with a straight-sets win over surprise-opponent Maja Chwalinska, marking the beginning of Andreeva’s Grand Slam glory.

“I want to thank myself for believing in myself. For always giving 100% even when it’s tough," Andreeva said in her post-match press conference. “Believing that I can do this while fighting so many demons inside of me. Only I know how tough it was for me and how nervous I was throughout these two weeks.”

The 19-year-old became the youngest French Open women’s singles champion since Monica Seles’ third-consecutive title in 1992.

Chwalinska’s Run to Remember

A Pole made a deep run at Roland-Garros – and her name was not Iga Swiatek. World No. 114 Chwalinska surprised many after going through qualifying and reaching the French Open final, dropping only a single set in her nine matches en route to Saturday’s battle for the title – she previously had just six tour-level match wins.

Chwalinska earned three Top-25 victories, with her third coming against world No. 23 Diana Shnaider in the semis to become the second qualifier in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final.

The rest of the Pole’s year may look different after she jumped 93 spots to No. 21 in the WTA rankings. Chwalinska won't be seeded at Wimbledon (due to the early cutoff) but will receive a wildcard and is most likely to be seeded during the North American hard-court swing.

“It will be different, for sure, but I think and I hope I'll adapt. I'll give my all to be better each and every day, and I'll see what the results will be,” Chwalinska said in her post-match press conference. “Definitely very grateful for this time, but it's in the past now. So, I just need to continue to stay present and give my all to be a better player every day.”

Coming Up on Tour

Queen Makes Return on Grass

It is only right that 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams makes her return to tennis at the Queen’s Club. The former world No. 1 took to social media last week to announce that she will be back on the WTA Tour, nearly four years after stepping away from the sport.

Williams was awarded a doubles wildcard for the HSBC Championships, her first event since the 2022 US Open. Her partner – Canadian teen and world No. 9 Victoria Mboko.

"An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week,” Mboko wrote on Instagram. “Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special."

The duo has a tough test in their opening match as the American-Canadian team play third-seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe on Tuesday, not before 12:30pm ET.

Mboko enters as the No. 3 seed in singles as well, behind 2025 Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova and top-seed Elena Rybakina. The Canadian No. 1 receives a first-round bye and awaits the winner of Karolina Pliskova and McCartney Kessler in round two.

All winners from last week:

Roland-Garros

Women’s Singles: Mirra Andreeva (3/1/6)* d. Maja Chwalinska
Women’s Doubles: Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend d. Anna Danilina/Aleksandra Krunic

*(2026 titles/Grand Slam titles/career titles)

The WTA's best return to Toronto next summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers Aug 1 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak