Wild card Lois Boisson shocks third seed Jessica Pegula at French Open
The 22-year-old, ranked 361 in the world, stunned American Pegula 3-6 6-4 6-4 in front of a delirious Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd.
Boisson's only real claim to fame prior to this year's tournament was being the player Britain's Harriet Dart complained to an umpire about, saying 'tell her to wear deodorant'.
A picture you can hear 🗣️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/VhKv0v08bp
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025
But she came up smelling of roses on Monday afternoon after a famous win in the French capital.
It was an emotional victory for Boisson, who was due to make her debut in Paris last year only to suffer a serious knee injury a fortnight before the tournament which kept her out of action for nine months.
Boisson was not even sure she would receive a wildcard, with her ranking having plunged so low.
She is now the first Frenchwoman to reach the last eight since Caroline Garcia in 2017, and the first wildcard since Mary Pierce in 2002.
'I didn't expect anything, because we don't know every time if we will get it or not, so I prefer not to expect it,' she said.
'When I received it, I was really happy. I hope to go further – to win if I can. I will try to do my best, and let's see.
'For the match point, I really felt very tense. And when I saw that my forehand was a winner, well, the whole pressure went off.
'I was just so happy to win and to be able to play a quarter-final.'
Boisson will meet Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, the sixth seed, in the last eight.
Coco Gauff, the world number two, is moving quietly through the draw after beating Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5.
The 21-year-old, runner-up in 2022, is into the quarter-finals for the fifth successive year.
She will face another American, the Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who beat Hailey Baptiste in straight sets.
In the men's draw, world number one Jannik Sinner was untroubled in the night match, beating Russian 17th seed Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-3 6-4 in under two hours.
The Italian will face Alexander Bublik in the last eight after the world number 62 from Kazahkstan came from a set and a break down to oust British fifth seed Jack Draper in four sets.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
12 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Tennis star Lois Boisson told she 'smells really bad' before stunning French Open
Tennis star Lois Boisson told she 'smells really bad' before stunning French Open Lois Boisson was ranked 361st in the world ahead of the tournament but a fairytale run has seen her soar up the rankings Lois Boisson (L) of France embraces Mirra Andreeva after her victory (Image: 2025 Andy Cheung ) French Open wildcard Lois Boisson has stunned the Roland Garros crowd again by sealing another shock win over world number six Mirra Andreeva to make it through to the women's singles semi-finals. The 22-year-old, who was ranked 361st in the world ahead of the tournament, continued her fairytale run as she battled back to upset 18-year-old Andreeva and claim a 7-6(6), 6-3 win. Having become the first player in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of the event as a wildcard, she will now face world number two Coco Gauff in the last four. Boisson has also become the youngest French women's semi-finalist at a Grand Slam for 26 years, while she has now soared a huge 296 places up the rankings to a projected new career-high of 65th. After battling to victory in front of a home crowd, Boisson was blown away by the support she had received as she reflected on her phenomenal achievement. 'It was unbelievable, it was amazing to feel supported like this," she said in her post-match interview. "I have no words to describe that feeling. 'Whatever the situation last year and difficult moments we went through, it's unbelievable to come from there, but it's also thanks to my team who supported me. It's thanks to all of us, really. Article continues below "I think I ran a bit too much because I was so tense.," Boisson added as she analysed her performance. "It was difficult to hit the ball from the racket. I fought hard. "The first set was very intense and at the beginning of the second set, I was really tired. But in the end, I managed to recover and to finish as I did. 'Well, I'm going to try and recover, see the physios, there's six physios in my box. So I have plenty of choice.' Boisson is through to the French Open semi-finals after another stunning win Boisson - who had already beaten third seed Jessica Pegula on her way to the quarter-final - was a relative unknown ahead of the tournament but hit headlines earlier this year when she was accused of "smelling really bad" by British star Harriet Dart. The two went head-to-head at the Roeun Open in April, with Boisson coming out on top with a 6-0, 6-3 upset win. However, it was a comment made by Dart during a changeover in the second set that caused controversy, as she was heard asking the umpire: "Can you ask her to to put on deodorant? She smells really bad." Dart was slammed for her comments and she later apologised in a statement on social media, writing: "I want to apologise for what I said on court today, it was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret. "That's not how I want to carry myself, and I take full responsibility. I have a lot of respect for Lois and how she competed today. I'll learn from this and move forward." Article continues below Boisson later made light of the incident as she shared an edited photo of her holding deodorant and told toiletries company Dove that they "need a collab".
North Wales Chronicle
13 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
World number 361 Lois Boisson stuns Mirra Andreeva to reach semi-finals
The 22-year-old Frenchwoman, ranked 361 in the world, pulled off her second scarcely believable upset in the space of two days with a 7-6 (6) 6-3 victory. Boisson dropped to the clay with her hands over her eyes in emotional scenes before cupping her ear to the crowd on a packed, raucous Court Philippe-Chatrier. THE DREAM RUN CONTINUES 💫🇫🇷#RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2025 It was all too much for Russian teenager Andreeva, who had two set points in the first but suffered a complete meltdown in the second. She told the crowd to 'shut up', received a code violation for whacking a ball into the stands, burst into tears and forced her mother Raisa to leave her player's box. Boisson, who suffered a career-threatening ACL injury before what was supposed to be her debut here last year, will be comfortably inside the top 100 after this fairytale run. But she is playing like a top-10 player; she has now beaten the third seed, Jessica Pegula and the sixth in Andreeva, with second seed Coco Gauff awaiting on Thursday for a place in the final. Gauff had earlier passed her biggest test so far at Roland Garros as she scrapped her way past fellow American Madison Keys to reach the semi-finals. A scruffy match, featuring a combined 101 unforced errors and 14 breaks of serve, ended 6-7 (6) 6-4 6-1 in favour of the world number two. Gauff had previously not dropped a set as she quietly made her way through the friendlier side of the draw. But in a nervy first set on both sides of the net, Gauff overturned a 4-1 deficit to force a set point at 5-4, only to be taken to a tie-break which Keys won. COCOMEBACK 💥 Gauff is into the #RolandGarros semis. — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2025 Gauff went 4-1 up in the second but found herself pegged back, before a break and a hold took the match into a decider. The confidence had drained from Australian Open champion Keys while Gauff finally located her serve, having coughed up nine double faults over the first two sets. A pass down the line brought up three match points and the 21-year-old roared with delight when Keys went long, giving her the victory in two hours and 11 minutes. 'Maddie was playing well, she's hitting the ball so fast and so low so I was just trying to fight for each point,' said Gauff, the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2022. 'I knew I had to be able to run today and as soon as the ball came short, punish her for it. 'It means a lot, getting through this tough match. I'm very happy to get through and be in the semi-finals again. I'll savour this one today and be ready for tomorrow's match.'
Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Kerkez to Liverpool transfer one step away as defender deal gets green light
Milos Kerkez is closing in on a move to Liverpool, with the Hungarian set to challenge Andy Robertson at left-back, with Bournemouth now ready to let him depart Liverpool are trying to finalise a deal for Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez. But the Cherries are still demanding £45m for the Hungary left-back as talks continue between the club. The Reds have yet to submit an official bid but will do so when they feel they can strike an agreement. That is getting closer and discussions will continue this week with confidence growing that the player will end up at Liverpool. There will need to be a compromise on the fee. Boss Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have earmarked the left-back as their priority in the position they want to strengthen this summer. Hughes originally signed Kerkez for the Cherries from AZ Alkmaar in 2023 when he was at the Vitality Stadium. Kerkez, 21, was a standout performer for Bournemouth last season. The player is keen to make the move and personal terms won't be an issue should the clubs agree a fee. The Cherries are not willing to sell below their valuation as they have already lost defender Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid. They are also bracing for a bid from Paris Saint-Germain for centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi. According to FootMercato, the South Coast side have identified their preferred target to replace Kerkez. That man is understood to be Stade Rennais star Adrien Truffert, who is being 'highly courted' by the Cherries. He featured in 33 games for Rennais last season as they finished 12th in Ligue 1. The French side rejected an initial offer for the 23-year-old on Tuesday, but Bournemouth are ready to return with an improved offer. With the Cherries closing in on a replacement for Kerkez, it puts the Hungarian a step closer to Anfield. Liverpool are in the midst of a busy summer window having already confirmed the signing of versatile right-back Jeremie Frimpong in a £29m deal from Bayer Leverkusen. While talks are ongoing with the Bundesliga club after a bid of £109m in for the Germany midfield star Florian Wirtz in what would be a record transfer. There is expected to be another signing in attack with a striker on the list of wanted players this summer while there could be significant exits. Yet the Reds have no intention of selling Luis Diaz this summer. They are yet to receive any contact from clubs looking to sign the Colombia international. Diaz, 28, has just two years left on his current contract at the club and has been subject to numerous links this summer about a move away. Saudi Pro League sides Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal have both been linked with him as well as Spanish giants Barcelona. But Liverpool are confused by the noise around the player's future as they have had no contact about his availability. He is an important player under boss Arne Slot and scored 17 goals last season in all competitions as the Reds won the Premier League title. But there are also no plans to open contract talks yet with Diaz.
