The French wildcard Lois Boisson created a major upset at Roland Garros by defeating the third seed Jessica Pegula in a thrilling three-set match to reach the French Open quarter-finals. Ranked No 361 in the world, the 22-year-old Frenchwoman stunned the American 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 on the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier, sending shockwaves through the tournament.
Boisson’s rise in the tournament is especially remarkable given her previous limited recognition. Before this French Open, one of the few notable moments in her career was an off-court incident where British player Harriet Dart complained about her hygiene during a match, asking the umpire to “tell her to wear deodorant.” This tournament, however, has changed the narrative for Boisson dramatically.
This victory was particularly emotional for Boisson, who was meant to make her Paris debut last year but was sidelined by a severe knee injury just two weeks before the tournament. The injury kept her out of competitive play for nine months, making her return and subsequent success all the more inspiring. In the quarter-finals, she will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, the sixth seed.
Boisson spoke about the experience, saying, “Playing on this court with this atmosphere was amazing. I gave my all and in the end I won, which is just incredible. I hope I’m going to win it all.”
Andreeva, just 18 years old, also made headlines by becoming the youngest player to reach consecutive French Open quarter-finals in almost 30 years. She breezed through her match against the 17th seed, Daria Kasatkina, winning 6-3, 7-5 without dropping a set in the tournament so far. This achievement places her alongside Martina Hingis, who managed the same feat in 1997 and 1998.
Reflecting on her win, Andreeva said, “I’m so happy I won. I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even that is a torture.” The two players are frequent practice partners, which added an extra layer of intensity to the match. “It was a hell of a match. I’m super happy I stayed calm in the second set when she raised her level… I had to fight and continue playing my game. I knew if I believed in myself I would win a third set.”
Andreeva held serve tightly in the crucial moments and seized a break in the eighth game, capitalizing on an error from Kasatkina. The Russian-born Kasatkina, who changed her national representation earlier this year, had previously beaten Andreeva in three sets at last year’s Ningbo Open final. Known for her resilience, Kasatkina fought back during the match, recovering a break and briefly taking the lead. However, Andreeva’s focus and determination helped her secure the victory.
The 28-year-old Kasatkina credited her coach Conchita Martínez’s advice about practicing with challenging players, explaining, “My coach says you’ve got to practise with the people you don’t like. That’s why I practise with her because I hate her.” The intense rivalry between the two clearly pushed Andreeva to elevate her game.
On the other side of the draw, second seed Coco Gauff continued her strong run by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals. Gauff, currently ranked world No 2, appeared to have an easy start, quickly taking the first set with dominant play. However, Alexandrova fought back in the second set, challenging the American and forcing a more competitive finish.
Gauff commented on the match, saying, “The whole match I played well. She stepped up her game in the second set. Overall, I thought I played great.” She also highlighted her comfort on clay courts, stating, “I move well on clay, really comfortable with sliding and moving on the surface. The most physical surface for sure and I do well in that department.”
The 21-year-old Gauff is chasing her first French Open title, having reached the final in 2022 and the semi-finals last year. She began her match strongly, breaking her opponent’s serve three times in quick succession to lead 5-0 within the first 15 minutes. Alexandrova, attempting to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final, managed only five points during that initial phase.
Despite giving away five break points in the following game, Gauff closed out the first set without dropping a single game. Alexandrova finally held serve at the start of the second set and put up a stronger fight, but Gauff kept her composure in the tighter moments to seal the victory.
Gauff will face Madison Keys in the quarter-finals after Keys won her all-American fourth-round match against Hailey Baptiste. With her powerful baseline game and strong movement on clay, Gauff remains a firm favorite to contend for the title as the tournament progresses.
