French wild card Lois Boisson produced one of the greatest upsets in recent Grand Slam history, defeating World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the fourth round of Roland Garros 2025.
In her Grand Slam main-draw debut and just her second WTA tour-level event, the 22-year-old stunned the world of tennis with a thriller 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win on Monday afternoon at Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Ranked 361st, Boisson made history as the lowest-ranked woman to reach the quarterfinals of a major since Kaia Kanepi’s remarkable run at the 2017 US Open. Her breakthrough came before an electric home crowd, which watched in awe as the young French talent — who was sidelined by an ACL injury just a year ago — produced a fearless and tactically astute performance to eliminate one of the tour’s most reliable contenders.
The first set went Pegula's way, the American's trademark precision and patience getting too much for the French young gun early on. But Boisson, displaying a crushing topspin forehand and tactical range far in excess of her age, started to gain control. Using the most heavy-handed forehand topspin in the remaining players in the draw, she made Pegula work long rallies from the back, where the momentum slowly started to turn.
Boisson's comeback manifested in the second set. She played strong passing shots and precise lobs with increasing assurance. A well-baited crosscourt backhand rally at 5-4 gave her a crucial break. The crowd went wild as she served out the set with calm and confidence seldom expressed by such an outsider.
The tiebreaker put both players to the test, but it was Boisson who remained immovable. In a gripping ninth game, she held her fourth break point in a grueling contest to lead 5-4. Next was her greatest test — serving for the match. With four break points against her, the Frenchwoman batted back with strong serving, precise groundstrokes, and willpower. Following two hours and forty minutes of compelling tennis, Boisson closed out the victory, allowing her racquet to drop as she looked up to the sky, overcome with emotion.
With this victory, Boisson is the first Frenchman — man or woman — to make it to the quarterfinals of the singles at Roland Garros since 2017, when Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic both reached the quarterfinals. She is also in an exclusive club as the first woman to qualify for the quarterfinals in her Grand Slam main-draw debut since Carla Suárez Navarro did it in 2008.
Up next for Boisson is another teen sensation — No. 6 seed Mirra Andreeva, who previously beat Daria Kasatkina — in a much-anticipated quarterfinal match.
Read also| Maxwell Quits ODIs to Prioritize T20s, Citing Selflessness in Decision
Read also| IPL 2025: Iyer’s Unbeaten 87 Seals PBKS’ Spot in Final with Five-Wicket Win Over MI
