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“Came Out of Nowhere” – Martina Navratilova Reveals The Name Of One WTA Star Who Surprised Her Most in 2026

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova recently identified Maja Chwalinska as her most surprising player of 2026. The Polish athlete surged from a ranking of 146 to 11, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the French Open after entering as a qualifier.

She also secured a victory at the Wuhan Open in October against Sonay Kartal and reached the semifinals of the Singapore Open. Navratilova praised Chwalinska for her traditional playing style and resilience, specifically defending her against critics who focused on early exits at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Navratilova attributed those losses to a mid-match ankle injury against Mananchaya Sawangkaew and a difficult draw against Taylor Townsend, insisting these setbacks do not diminish the significance of her performance in Paris.

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