French tennis player Lois Boisson pulled off a remarkable upset at Roland Garros, defeating American world No. 3 Jessica Pegula with a final score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Ranked No. 361 globally, this marks Boisson’s debut at a Grand Slam tournament and only her second appearance on the WTA Tour, which she began in April.
Boisson’s victory has made history, as she becomes the first French wildcard to make it to the women’s quarter-finals since Mary Pierce back in 2002. The last time a French woman reached this stage at Roland Garros was in 2017, achieved by Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. Next, Boisson is set to face Russian sixth seed Mirra Andreeva, and she will be the lowest-ranked female quarter-finalist at a Grand Slam since Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open.
The match began with Pegula establishing an early lead, breaking Boisson’s serve at 3-3 and comfortably taking the first set. However, Boisson rallied in the second set, breaking Pegula at 4-4 before closing it out decisively. The decider was intensely competitive, with both players exchanging breaks. The crowd’s excitement heightened as Boisson converted her fourth break-point opportunity at 4-4 and bravely saved four break points while serving for the match, ultimately sealing her victory after two hours and 40 minutes.
Remarkably, just a year ago, Boisson underwent ACL and meniscus surgery, sidelining her for nine months. Now, she has not only made a standout performance at Roland Garros, winning four matches but is also expected to rise significantly in the WTA rankings, moving to around No. 120.
Pegula reflected on the match, acknowledging Boisson’s powerful forehand and movement, admitting that her own strategy should have been more aggressive in pivotal moments. Meanwhile, the atmosphere on Court Philippe-Chatrier was electric, heightened by the presence of Paris Saint-Germain player Ousmane Dembélé, who celebrated his team’s Champions League victory by showcasing the trophy.
In other matches, Andreeva defeated Australia’s Daria Kasatkina, setting up the quarter-final against Boisson. Additionally, American players Coco Gauff and Madison Keys advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s draw after notable victories. On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic achieved his 100th career win at Roland Garros, while other matches showcased surprising outcomes, including Alexander Bublik’s upset over Jack Draper.