Oksana Selekhmeteva vs Maja Chwalinska: Montpellier Final Analysis (ITF W75)
Chwalinska used non-stop variations of speed and height to secure her first title in over 2 years and snap Selekhmeteva's streak of 9 consecutive match wins in Montpellier.
cover 📸 credit: Montpellier Metropole twitter
In Montpellier, Maja Chwalinska (WTA #248) conquered her sixth career ITF Tour title, third at W60/W75 level. It was her first trophy since right knee surgery in September 2022 and ended a title drought of over 2 years (May 2022, ITF W60 Prague).
Chwalinska closed her triumphant run in Montpellier with a win over fellow lefty Oksana Selekhmeteva (WTA #411), the tournament’s champion in 2022 who is without a title since. Last year, Selekhmeteva was unable to defend the title after a shoulder injury forced her to miss the rest of the season after Roland Garros qualifying. So she carried a 9-match winning streak in Montpellier into this year’s final.
From the start, Chwalinska’s non-stop variations of speed and height, mixing slices and drop shots with high balls and a few hit-throughs at half pace never allowed Selekmeteva to settle and find her game.
Chwalinska jumped to an early 4-0 lead and then responded with a run of 7 games, to get within one game of victory at 6-3 5-0, after Selekhmeteva had cut the gap to 4-3.
Selekhmeteva showed fighting spirit in saving 5 match points from down 0-5 0/40 in set 2, making the final score a bit more respectable. On her 6th match point, Chwalinska finally sentenced the match with a forehand passing shot winner.