Boisson continues dream French Open run, Djokovic, Sinner eye semis
An inspired Lois Boisson delighted Roland Garros as the French world number 361 downed Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday to set up a French Open semi-final against Coco Gauff, before Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both chase men's last-four berths.
Boisson, making her debut at a Grand Slam event, powered her way to a thrilling 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 victory on a raucous Court Philippe Chatrier to become the first Frenchwoman to reach the semis since Marion Bartoli in 2011.
The 22-year-old, who was due to play at last year's French Open but suffered a knee injury the week before the tournament, is the lowest-ranked woman to reach a major semi-final in 40 years.
"It was incredible to play in front of this crowd and feel support like that," said Boisson, after hitting 24 winners past Russian sixth seed Andreeva to follow up her fourth-round win over world number three Jessica Pegula with an even more surprising victory.
A dramatic first set saw Andreeva miss a set point after leading 5-3, before Boisson fought back only to see three chances of her own come and go in a marathon 12th game.
But the wildcard fought off another set point in the tie-break, before taking her next opportunity, cupping her ear towards the adoring crowd in celebration.
Andreeva gathered herself and quickly built a 3-0 lead in the second set, only to be left jumping up and down in anger after a missed backhand gave Boisson a much-needed hold of serve.
The 18-year-old Andreeva started to crumble under the pressure, being given a warning for slamming a ball into the top tier of the stands as the atmosphere heated up under the Chatrier roof.
She was roundly booed when she then argued with the umpire over a line call, and was broken later that game after another double-fault to suddenly trail 4-3.
Boisson made it six consecutive games to secure a seismic victory as Andreeva, one of the pre-tournament favourites, completely unravelled.
Second seed Gauff battled back from a set down to defeat fellow American, and Australian Open champion, Madison Keys in an error-strewn opening match 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1.
The former US Open champion upped her level enough after dropping the first set to get through a quarter-final littered with 14 double-faults and a whopping 101 unforced errors.
"It means a lot, especially getting through this tough match today, it wasn't an easy match and I'm very happy to get through it," she said.
Gauff, the 2022 losing finalist, will be hoping to go at least one better than when she lost to Iga Swiatek in last year's semi-final.
Swiatek continues her bid for a fourth consecutive Roland Garros title in a blockbuster clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Thursday's other semi-final.
- Zverev eyeing Djokovic scalp -
Djokovic will compete in a record 19th French Open quarter-final against last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev in the night-session match.
The German third seed will be well rested after his last-16 opponent Tallon Griekspoor retired on Monday with an abdominal injury while trailing 6-4, 3-0.
Zverev, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year's final, continues his latest bid for a maiden Grand Slam title after three runner-up finishes.
"For me, Carlos is the favourite. Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that," said Zverev, who could meet world number one Sinner in the semi-finals.
Zverev has made at least the last four at the past four French Opens and is into his seventh quarter-final.
The 28-year-old has won five of his 13 career matches with Djokovic, including in Melbourne in January when the Serb retired injured from their semi-final.
- 'Pretty dominant' -
Djokovic, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, is just the second player to record 100 wins at the event after 14-time winner Rafael Nadal (112).
"It's a very pretty number, but 101 victories sounds better," said 38-year-old Djokovic who has reached the quarter-finals at the clay-court major for a 16th consecutive year.
World number six Djokovic is chasing a record 25th major title.
Italian Sinner takes on unseeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik, who hailed his emotional four-set win over fifth seed Jack Draper in the last 16 as the "best moment of his life".
Sinner leads 62nd-ranked Bublik 3-1 in previous meetings.
The Italian reached the semi-finals last year where he lost a five-set battle to Spaniard Alcaraz.
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The Advertiser
29 minutes ago
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Alcaraz reaches French Open final after Musetti retires
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." 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I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match."
The Advertiser
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Jones misses out on French Open girls final dream
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Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers. Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers. Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers. Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Alcaraz reaches French Open final after Musetti retires
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match."
