Staff Reporter.
@RolandGarros.
France’s 361st-ranked Lois Boisson shocked US third seed Jessica Pegula in three sets to reach the French Open quarter-finals on Monday.
The French player was given a wildcard into the main draw after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in her knee last year, came through 3-6 6-4 6-4 against the US Open runner-up.
Boisson is making her debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam and had never played an opponent ranked in the world’s top 50 before this week.
The 22-year-old had to stave off four break points as she served for the match at 5-4 in the third set before sealing victory with a thumping forehand winner.
Boisson was serenaded by chants of “Lois!” from the packed crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier as the moment sank in.
“Playing on this court with this atmosphere was amazing,” Boisson said. “I gave my all and in the end I won, which is just incredible. I hope I’m going to win it all.”
She will play sixth seed Mirra Andreeva for a place in the semi-finals in Paris.
Andreeva became the youngest player to reach back-to-back French Open quarter-finals in nearly three decades when she defeated the 17th seed, Daria Kasatkina, 6-3, 7-5. The powerful 18-year-old has scythed through the field without dropping a set and her fourth-round victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen helped her to match the feat of Martina Hingis between 1997 and 1998.
Boisson is the lowest-ranked player to reach the French Open fourth round since Serena Williams, who was then world number 451 as she made her return from maternity leave, in 2018.