4 days ago
French Open: How Loïs Boisson crushed Mirra Andreeva to reach the semi-finals
Now that Paris Saint-Germain has finally claimed the Champions League title, one question lingers in French sports: Will Ousmane Dembélé manage a double and win the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the season's top footballer? He appears to be the front-runner, but not all Parisians are convinced. From the Philippe-Chatrier court at Roland-Garros, a voice rang out in support of another candidate: "Loïs Ballon d'Or!" shouted a spectator just as Loïs Boisson, her back covered in clay, had barely gotten up, her eyes red with emotion after securing a spot in the French Open semi-finals.
Ranked world 361 st, Boisson should not even have been eligible to play in the tournament. But after being granted a wildcard by the French Tennis Federation, the player from Dijon appears determined to stay in Paris for the entire competition. Not content with having already ousted the world No. 3, American Jessica Pegula, on Monday, Boisson added Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva, ranked 6 th, to her list, defeating her after a battle lasting more than two hours (7-6 [8-6], 6-3). She thus became the first Frenchwoman, since Marion Bartoli in 2011, to reach the final four of the women's tournament on the Parisian clay.
