World number 361 Boisson stuns third seed Pegula

Yahoo

2 days ago

French Open 2025
Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros
Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
World number 361 Lois Boisson pulled off the biggest shock of this year's French Open with a stunning fourth-round victory against third seed Jessica Pegula.
The French player, given a wildcard into the main draw after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in her knee last year, came through 3-6 6-4 6-4 against the US Open runner-up.
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Boisson is making her debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam and had never played an opponent ranked in the world's top 50 before this week.
The 22-year-old had to stave off four break points as she served for the match at 5-4 in the third set before sealing victory with a thumping forehand winner.
Boisson was serenaded by chants of "Lois!" from the packed crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier as the moment finally sank in.
"I'm not sure what to say. Playing on this court, with this atmosphere, was amazing," Boisson said.
"I gave my all and in the end I won, which is just incredible. I hope I'm going to win it all!"
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She will play sixth seed Mirra Andreeva for a place in the Paris semi-finals.
Boisson is the lowest-ranked player to reach the French Open fourth round since Serena Williams, who was then world number 451 and rarely playing on tour, in 2018.
She is also the lowest-ranked player to reach a major quarter-final since world number 418 Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open.
Things looked very different for Boisson 12 months ago.
After a successful series of performances at WTA 125 tournaments - the third rung of women's tennis - Boisson was given a wildcard for her home Grand Slam.
However, a week before the clay-court tournament began, Boisson tore her ACL in her left knee. She was unable to bring herself to watch last year's French Open and subsequently missed nine months of the season.
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A tattoo of the word 'resilience' on her right elbow is there to remind her that the hard work is worth it - and victory over Pegula is conclusive proof of that.
She was undone by Pegula's consistency in the first set, the American using the drop shot to great effect, before finding her footing in the second.
She went a break up on Pegula but immediately lost it, before the pressure told on Pegula at 4-4.
Two easy misses and a scintillating backhand winner from Boisson allowed her to serve for the set, which she promptly did to love to force a decider.
Buoyed by the crowd, Boisson went a break up straight away, but Pegula kept chipping away and levelled the set as the home favourite's nerves showed.
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However, at 4-4 Pegula again blinked first. Boisson broke and served out the match by saving break points with a mix of deft touch and power.
She let out a roar of celebration after securing victory and stood in the middle of the court with her arms aloft to soak in the atmosphere.
Boisson is the first French woman to reach the Roland Garros last eight since Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in 2017.