Latest news with #LaMarseillaise
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
How can the French find joi at Roland Garros again
The Philippe Chatrier, a steely colosseum of right angles outside is anything but steely inside. Fifteen thousand people are losing their minds. Roland Garros 2025's last surviving French player — a wild card ranked world no. 361 about whom there is still no information on her player page (neither place of birth, height, weight, playing style or name of coach) had just knocked out her second-successive seeded player. If it was no. 3 Jessica Pegula on Monday, Wednesday was reserved for no.6 Mirra Andreeva, a rising star of women's tennis, who melted in the Chatrier's heat and noise. The La Marseillaise was sung in one stand, national flags were being waved in the other, there was chanting and booing. Lois Boisson became the first French player since 2016 and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga to reach a Roland Garros semi-final, which is where her run ended. Boisson is a scrapper from nowhere who went unnoticed over the first week of an event which had witnessed the disappearance of more celebrated French players from the draw. This after the hosts have 10 men and two women in the top 100. When she took down Pegula, nobody even knew who she was. But the absence of the French at the business end is a distressingly annual Roland Garros custom. 'The last one who went to the final is me… 88' says Henri Leconte, a very 21st century Mousquetaire, dressed in an old-style bomber jacket. 'We need an Italian - we need someone who can play on clay.' Leconte is not being glib when he's talking of Italian-origin players for France but rather focusing on clay court expertise. 'We need to organise ourselves and with our juniors to go and see different academies like (Riccardo) Piatti and Rafa's…' When someone standing behind us suggests 'Patrick?' referring to Patrick Mouratoglu, Leconte is quick to respond 'Patrick, no…. this is not on clay, first of all most of his sport is on hard court. And I think we need to go and see how the best one for clay - which is Spain - how they prepare themselves for Roland Garros.' He is emphatic, 'To win at Roland Garros you need to practice on clay, you need to play on clay almost all year and come back…' The French love for clay as a natural surface that is both demanding and forgiving is to be sensed in Leconte's incantation, 'Because we know that the best surface to work on, to be physically strong on is clay. If you move well on clay, you move well everywhere. If you play well on clay, you play well everywhere - different techniques, different mentality.' It is as if Leconte is asking for a sustained devotion to excelling on clay as the French players' path to the Roland Garros grail. Are the French spending too much time in a year on alien surfaces aka hard court? He says, 'If you want to win on Roland Garros you have to practice on clay, if they don't like the surface, if they don't like to play on Roland Garros, if they don't like the pressure…' Himself a consummate 'acteur' across his home courts (three semis to go with the one final), Leconte says 'maybe' the French players find playing at Roland Garros too daunting, but adds, 'but the pressure is yourself…' because in reality, ' it's not there. But our players, they have to train, train, train.' We're standing in a hall beneath the Tenniseum as part of the Emirates Legends Trophy media meet at an event where 12 men and 12 women compete in an exhibition competition. The good and great of French tennis are around and Guy Forget, former world top 5 pro and successful Davis Cup captain points out to the era that has gone. 'When Rafa won 14 times here, we had four players in the top 10 overs. When Rafa didn't win, it was Roger and when Roger didn't win it was Novak and of course you get the leftovers.' This year, injuries to the two top 20 Frenchmen this year - Arthur Fils and Ugo Hubert - have been, he said, 'well, a bummer.' Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin, who made world no. 12 and won two WTA titles before injury curtailed her career, has a different take on where the French game is at. At too much. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) supports promising juniors till the age of 18 without, many believe, the pressure to produce results. 'There's many issues,' Golovin said, 'The fact that the FFT gives so many opportunities, so many things to kids that they don't develop basically that hunger or the ability to sacrifice, because everything is kind of given to them.' The lack of a leader or a role model she said had caused a gap in trying to pull in a new generation of kids for the better part of a decade, 'motivating everyone to go up - that's an issue too.' Her summary of French tennis is simple, 'Because if there's not enough work done on a daily basis and if you're not going forward, you're going backwards.' The sudden resurgence of the Frenchmen in the upper orders of the ATP rankings has incited much optimism, like Forget says, 'A guy like Fils has a great game for clay - this was his first year at RG. Next year he will come back with good physical ability and he'll hopefully be able to be in the second week and why not in the semis.' M. Forget and les hommes have reason to be upbeat. But in the background there's an echo of a few polite 'excusez-mois' in the air. From a trio of past French Grand Slam title winners. Their names: Marion Bartoli, Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce. And perhaps Boisson will one day follow in their footsteps. The French even have a saying for this: cherchez la femme. Look for the woman.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Fit and firing Boisson dares to dream as stunning French Open run rolls on
PARIS - At Roland Garros, a venue that has crushed generations of French players, world number 361 Lois Boisson is daring to dream of an improbable triumph after she stormed into the French Open semi-finals on Wednesday to continue her magnificent run. The 22-year-old, in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time, beat Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals having knocked out world number three Jessica Pegula in the previous round. Her WTA ranking belies the true level of Boisson, who was hovering around the 150th place when she sustained a serious knee injury a year ago. Now that she's fit, she is firing and has her eyes firmly fixed on the biggest prize. "For sure, every tennis player dreams of winning a Slam - and for a French player, Roland Garros even more so. I'll go for it because my dream is to win the final, not the semi-final,' Boisson, who will at least break into the world's top 70 next week, told a press conference. The daughter of a former professional basketball player, she has lit up the clay courts in Paris with her gutsy performances and calm demeanour under pressure — a far cry from how she used to be. "When I started tennis, I was very nervous, very emotional on court," Boisson, who faces world number two Coco Gauff on Thursday, told reporters. "It was hurting me too much. I realised I wouldn't go far if I stayed like that. I learned to control it." Boisson, who overcame Andreeva in a tense quarter-final, spoke of how her preparation remains constant whether she is facing a top-10 player or a qualifier. "The preparation is pretty much the same, whether it's against a number 300 or a top 10,' she said. "We analyse the opponent, then I focus on what I have to do with my gameplan.' GOOSEBUMPS Asked about the growing attention on her following her unexpected run, Boisson, who will pocket at least a 690,000 euro ($788,532) cheque for her participation in the semi-finals and can expect almost as much in endorsements and sponsorships, said: 'I don't really think about what's next. I just try to stay focused on this tournament. I'm enjoying what I receive on court and outside the court - it's incredible." The support from the French crowd has been electric, with chants and La Marseillaise ringing around Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday. 'At the warm-up, when they played La Marseillaise, I wasn't expecting it - it gave me goosebumps,' she said. 'Having the public behind me like this, it's a real boost.' Boisson said she had learned to embrace the pressure of playing at home - a prospect that has frozen generations of French players at Roland Garros. "Every player feels pressure, maybe more so for a French player at Roland Garros. But you have to deal with it, otherwise you can't win any matches," she said. "I can deal with it — it's okay." Her form has not improved by chance, she stressed. 'It's not a miracle. Maybe a little bit of luck, yes, but it's a lot of hard work too — especially after last year and my rehab.' Boisson, whose varied game has unsettled opponents throughout the tournament, said her natural style has always been one of variety and flair. "My game has always been like that, with a lot of variation. The more I train, the more I can fine-tune it. Maybe my forehand ball is a little different from the other girls'." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Tennis-Fit and firing Boisson dares to dream as stunning French Open run rolls on
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 4, 2025 France's Lois Boisson in action during her quarter final match against Russia's Mirra Andreeva REUTERS/Lisi Niesner PARIS (Reuters) -At Roland Garros, a venue that has crushed generations of French players, world number 361 Lois Boisson is daring to dream of an improbable triumph after she stormed into the French Open semi-finals on Wednesday to continue her magnificent run. The 22-year-old, in a Grand Slam main draw for the first time, beat Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals having knocked out world number three Jessica Pegula in the previous round. Her WTA ranking belies the true level of Boisson, who was hovering around the 150th place when she sustained a serious knee injury a year ago. Now that she's fit, she is firing and has her eyes firmly fixed on the biggest prize. "For sure, every tennis player dreams of winning a Slam - and for a French player, Roland Garros even more so. I'll go for it because my dream is to win the final, not the semi-final,' Boisson, who will at least break into the world's top 70 next week, told a press conference. The daughter of a former professional basketball player, she has lit up the clay courts in Paris with her gutsy performances and calm demeanour under pressure — a far cry from how she used to be. "When I started tennis, I was very nervous, very emotional on court," Boisson, who faces world number two Coco Gauff on Thursday, told reporters. "It was hurting me too much. I realised I wouldn't go far if I stayed like that. I learned to control it." Boisson, who overcame Andreeva in a tense quarter-final, spoke of how her preparation remains constant whether she is facing a top-10 player or a qualifier. "The preparation is pretty much the same, whether it's against a number 300 or a top 10,' she said. "We analyse the opponent, then I focus on what I have to do with my gameplan.' GOOSEBUMPS Asked about the growing attention on her following her unexpected run, Boisson, who will pocket at least a 690,000 euro ($788,532) cheque for her participation in the semi-finals and can expect almost as much in endorsements and sponsorships, said: 'I don't really think about what's next. I just try to stay focused on this tournament. I'm enjoying what I receive on court and outside the court - it's incredible." The support from the French crowd has been electric, with chants and La Marseillaise ringing around Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday. 'At the warm-up, when they played La Marseillaise, I wasn't expecting it - it gave me goosebumps,' she said. 'Having the public behind me like this, it's a real boost.' Boisson said she had learned to embrace the pressure of playing at home - a prospect that has frozen generations of French players at Roland Garros. "Every player feels pressure, maybe more so for a French player at Roland Garros. But you have to deal with it, otherwise you can't win any matches," she said. "I can deal with it — it's okay." Her form has not improved by chance, she stressed. 'It's not a miracle. Maybe a little bit of luck, yes, but it's a lot of hard work too — especially after last year and my rehab.' Boisson, whose varied game has unsettled opponents throughout the tournament, said her natural style has always been one of variety and flair. "My game has always been like that, with a lot of variation. The more I train, the more I can fine-tune it. Maybe my forehand ball is a little different from the other girls'." ($1 = 0.8750 euros) (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
LeMonde
03-06-2025
- General
- LeMonde
Pierre Nora, historian who shaped intellectual life in France, dies at 93
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in Paris's Left Bank, was his domain. Living at the corner of Place de Furstenberg, Pierre Nora was a few steps away from the Quai Conti, home to the Académie Française, of which he was a member, and from the headquarters of the prestigious Gallimard publishing house, where he oversaw collections in the social sciences and humanities. From this triangle, the founder of the journal Le Débat was a central figure in shaping intellectual life and debates in France. His elegant silhouette will no longer be seen crisscrossing these streets. Nora died on Monday, June 2, in Paris, at the age of 93, his family told Agence France-Presse. He had become an essential "public historian" whom journalists called upon for analysis of the evolution of national sentiment or the meaning of commemorations and national symbols. His name will remain above all associated with one of the most innovative historiographical undertakings of the past 40 years: Les Lieux de Mémoire, translated as Realms of Memory and Rethinking France, a monumental seven-volume project published between 1984 and 1993. As its director, he brought together 130 historians, including Raoul Girardet, Maurice Agulhon, Antoine Prost and Pascal Ory, notably to decipher the symbols of the French Republic (the tricolor flag, the Republican calendar, La Marseillaise) and its monuments (the Panthéon, town halls, war memorials).
Free Malaysia Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Boisson savours post-lunch support as she reaches last 8 in Paris
Lois Boisson is the first French woman with a wildcard to make it to the last eight at Roland Garros since 2002. (AP pic) PARIS : The French Open crowd showed both sides of its character as local favourite Lois Boisson moved into the quarter-finals with a stunning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over world No 3 Jessica Pegula today. World No 361 Boisson fought tooth and nail on Court Philippe Chatrier, where the fans showed up late – a common occurrence at the tournament where nothing can interrupt the sanctity of lunch – to watch the 22-year-old become the first French player to reach the Roland Garros last eight since 2017. The sight of empty seats was all the more jarring considering the unlikelihood of a Frenchwoman making it to the second week at Roland Garros with only one of them featuring in the top 100 in the WTA rankings. Fewer than 5,000 people filled the stands in the 15,000 capacity arena when wildcard Boisson played the first point without the vocal support she needed at her home Major. She played the final set, however, to the sound of 'Lois, Lois!' sung by a raucous audience and her victory was greeted by a spontaneous rendition of La Marseillaise. Boisson, who suffered a serious knee injury before the French Open last year, was gracious after winning the 2-hour, 40-minute battle. 'I don't know what to say, but thank you. Playing on this court in such a great atmosphere, it was incredible,' Boisson, who will add at least US$500,000 to her career total of US$21,000 in prize money, said on court. 'I knew I could do it but I knew she was super strong but after a while I realised it was a proper contest.' As her courtside interviewer promised she would release her to her friends and family, Boisson joked: 'I feel very well on this court, I can stay here for a long time.' Featuring in the main draw at a Grand Slam for the first time, the 22-year-old, who will next face Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva. Boisson snatched an early break but Pegula mixed it up with drop shots and bagged the opening set. Boisson's massive forehand, however, proved tough for American Pegula to handle and the momentum shifted as the Frenchwoman forced a decider. She broke decisively for 5-4 and although nerves crept in, a stone-faced Boisson served out to become the first French woman with a wildcard to make it to the last eight at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce 2002. Boisson also is the lowest-ranked woman to make a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top 20 player Kaia Kanepi reached the 2017 US Open last eight ranked 418th. She is also the first woman to make the quarter-finals of her first Grand Slam main draw since Carla Suarez Navarro made the last eight in Paris in 2008 as a qualifier.
