Boisson really merited the victory

New York Times

2 days ago

Follow live coverage from Roland Garros with Jannik Sinner on court after Gauff, Keys and Djokovic made the quarters earlier on Getty Images
Jannik Sinner (1) faces Andrey Rublev (17) in the final game of day nine at the 2025 French Open.
It has been a busy day at Roland Garros with Americans Coco Gauff (2) and Madison Keys (7) booking their quarterfinal places, while Jessica Pegula (3) was stunned in three sets by French wild card Lois Boisson.
Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic (6) and Alexander Zverev (3) easily made the last eight before Jack Draper (5) was stunned after taking the first set against Alexander Bublik.
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Wow! What an unbelievable game from Boisson to clinch the victory!
She really deserved that. It was her going for it at the end, while Pegula became way too conservative, just waiting for her opponent to make mistakes.
What a story. France's first woman into the quarters here since Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia in 2017.
And, also per Opta, only the fifth player since 1990 after Angelica Gavaldon (AO 1990), Jennifer Capriati (RG 1990), Marta Marrero (RG 2008) and Carla Suarez Navarro (RG 2008) to reach the quarterfinals in their first Grand Slam. Getty Images
Lois Boisson, speaking courtside to former player Alizé Cornet, discussed her first ever win against a top-10 player, in her first ever time playing on Philippe-Chatrier.
She said: 'I'm not quite sure what to say. Playing on this court, with this kind of atmosphere was amazing, so thank you to all of you.
'Maybe I thought there was a possibility (of winning) before the match but I knew she was very strong. But I managed to win, which was incredible.
'I hope I'm going to win it all!'
One year ago, Lois Boisson had her tennis dream dashed. After tearing through the third rung of professional women's tennis, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) awarded Boisson a wild card for the French Open.
A week before, at a minor tournament in Paris, Boisson tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and missed nine months of tennis.
12 months after the pain, Boisson was on Court Philippe-Chatrier soaking in the adoration of a French crowd. She upset Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, to reach the French Open quarterfinals.
She is the first French woman to reach the last eight at Roland Garros since Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in 2017, after beating Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
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Lois Boisson's stunning French Open run, one year after Roland Garros heartache Getty Images
FINAL: Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *5-4 Pegula
The unseeded Frenchwoman knocks out the third seed! Getty Images
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *5-4 Pegula
This game has seen almost everything. Nerves, nail-biting, poor decisions, great decisions, and shot-making from the sublime to the ridiculous.
The game, more than nine-and-a-half minutes old, gives Pegula a fourth break point. Boisson's first serve out.
Pegula predicts the drop shot, runs to it early, but pushes it wide! Pegula can't believe it but Boisson points to the mark, the umpire checks it, and rules it out. Deuce again.
How has Boisson got away with that? Pegula gave her the overhand volley, surely just smash it away, but Boisson tries the cute, cheeky drop-volley. Too much on it, Pegula gets there, must punish her, but doesn't!
It's match point! Getty Images
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *5-4 Pegula
It's so nervy out there. Jessica Pegula watches one sail long gratefully and that is 30-40 and break back point.
And what a shot from Boisson! Did she mean that? Will she care if not?! Drop shot from Pegula, Boisson surges there, stabs at it hopefully and it somehow lands centre of the court just over Pegula's side!
Deuce. Fine shot from Pegula, pushing Boisson to her right, opening up the court and then whacking it inside-out into the corner to Boisson's left. Another break point. Can Pegula scale this break back mountain?
No! Boisson loves the drop shot-lob combo! Pegula is scrambling backwards desperately but can't get there. Boisson flinging her arms upwards to ask for more noise, and the Chatrier crowd heed her call!
Boisson too tentative there, not knowing what she wanted to do. Lost a bit of intensity and aggression. A buoyed Pegula took the front foot, forcing Boisson to try a Hail Mary backhand pass down the line. Long. Advantage Pegula again.
But a third break point saved!
There was a huge roar on Chatrier as Boisson broke for 5-4 to give herself the chance to serve for the match and become the first Frenchwoman into the quarterfinals here since 2017.
Pegula, normally so consistent, is furious with herself after she gives up her serve with an error-strewn game.
Boisson is looking to reach the quarterfinals here in her first ever slam. Getty Images
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *5-4 Pegula
Here we go then! Lois Boisson, the unseeded Frenchwoman, up a break against third seed Jessica Pegula in the deciding set and one hold of serve away from a Grand Slam quarterfinal on home turf.
What a turn up this would be, what an upset. 15-0 and the crowd loves it! Then Pegula pulls a lob wide and long. 30-0 to Boisson, who is two points away.
So close she can almost taste it. But what a passing shot that is from Pegula! A ripping cross-court forehand. Double fault and that's 30-all, groans around Chatrier. Getty Images
Keys 5-2* Baptiste
Right on cue, Madison Keys gets her nose in front in the first set on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
It was the first and only break point of the match so far, as Keys forced the error from Baptiste at 30-40. Keys then consolidates the break with a hold to 15.
Different levels to the current drama on Chatrier of course, but still…
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *5-4 Pegula
What a point that is, too! Wonderful sliced backhand return from Boisson and she draws break point... No.
Boisson crabs left to attack the serve with another inside-out forehand but gets way too much juice on it and it's well out.
Late call of out on a second serve, the umpire upholds it, and it's a second break point.
From deuce, Boisson just stands up a return to middle of the court but Pegula misses it! Break point again, then deuce again as Boisson goes wide with a lob! Hands on heads in the stands.
Both players making some unusual, frazzled decisions. But that's a product of the tension out there. A fourth break point in the game, more than 11 minutes in this game. Can Pegula save another?
NO! SHE NETS! Boisson will serve for the match and a place in the quarterfinals! Getty Images
Keys 2-1* Baptiste
We had a bit of a break on Court Suzanne-Lenglen following the withdrawal of Tallon Griekspoor after just one set and three games of his fourth-round match against No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev.
But we are back up and running now, with an all-American affair in the women's singles, no less.
Seventh seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys is taking on world No. 70 Hailey Baptiste — who has never been this far in a Grand Slam, either in singles or doubles.
That is 15 previous attempts. This is No. 16. The pair have three times before, with Keys winning twice including their only meeting on clay. That was in Charleston two years ago.
Baptiste's win was in Washington, back in 2019. This is their first senior competitive match outside the U.S. Five games into the first set, we remain on serve and evenly matched.
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *4-4 Pegula
Boisson long, and we're at 4-4, 30-30, in the decider. 'Lois! Lois!' chant the Chatrier crowd, with the umpire twice calling for calm.
One backhand slice from Boisson is fine, but the second is poor, mistimed, floaty.
Pegula doesn't miss out on those. 40-30 and game point.
Deuce as Boisson's forehand is nicely played, but Pegula hits back for advantage. Deuce again, advantage again as Boisson errs. That will sting. But a forceful inside-out forehand draws the high return and Boisson slams it down the middle!
The clouds are back over Chatrier and Boisson would probably prefer the hotter sun, which makes her topspin kick up above Pegula's shoulders. Down 0-30 and 3-4, the chair umpire calls a first serve... in and Boisson gets the ace.
Pegula has done more damage with drop shots in this set, but Boisson reads one this time and Pegula can only send her drop-shot-in-kind long. 30-30.
Boisson shanks a backhand over the net, but Pegula nets to give Boisson game point.
A huge serve out wide and Boisson takes us to 4-4. The crowd is into this now, at the same stage of the third set at which Boisson broke in the second.
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, 4-4* Pegula
Work to do in this game for Lois Boisson. Pegula with a drop shot, her ninth drop shot winner to Boisson's one, and then a horrible miscue soars high into the Paris sky.
0-30, but she roars back to 30-all as Pegula pushes a lob long.
And Boisson does hold. Missed opportunity for Pegula. Getty Images
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *3-4 Pegula
Jessica Pegula is holding up her end of the bargain!
She holds to love, caressing the ball past Boisson for a winner.
Pressure piled back onto Boisson.
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, 3-3* Pegula
Total admiration from me here, for Lois Boisson.
She was getting picked off by Pegula's drop shots — so she upped the power and imposed herself on the rest of her service game by sheer force of will.
It takes a couple of looks but in the end, the crowd gets behind Boisson and she has her hold. Getty Images
Boisson 3-6, 6-4, *2-3 Pegula
Pegula looked underpowered and a bit shellshocked at the start of the third set, but she has settled now and rattled off three straight games for 3-2.
Her drop shots are generally getting the job done; Boisson, not so much.
Still, we remain on serve and with all to play for.
Boisson recovers from getting broken in a game she probably should have led 30-0, by whipping a forehand pass down the line. But Pegula replies with a perfect drop shot for 15-15.
The crowd has just backed off the noise levels with the set in the balance, and it feels as if Boisson needs the support that she was getting when she was behind earlier on.
Chatrier is a very, very big court and it takes a high volume to be heard.