Jessica Pegula falls in Coco Gauff rankings battle with stunning Lois Boisson French Open defeat
French wildcard Lois Boisson took her fairytale run at the 2025 French Open to new heights as she upset third seed Jessica Pegula to reach the quarter-finals.
The world No 361, who is making her Grand Slam debut, earned a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory against the 31-year-old American star in the fourth round at Roland Garros.
The 22-year-old Frenchwoman delighted the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd as she showcased her talent and nerve to prevail in a nail-biting deciding set.
In her on-court interview, Boisson said: “Well, I’m not quite sure what to say, but playing on this court with this kind of atmosphere was amazing, so thank you to all of you.”
Asked by French WTA star Alize Cornet if she expected her forehand and variation to have such an impact, Boisson replied: “No, no not really (smiles).
“I knew before the match there was a possbility, but knew she was very, very tough. I gave my all and, in the end, I won, which is just incredible.
“I hope I’m going to win it all.”
Boisson has soared 241 places in the Live WTA Rankings to a projected new career-high of world No 120.
Pegula’s last 16 French Open exit ended her hopes of displacing fellow American Coco Gauff as the world No 2 after the tournament. Gauff reached the last eight with a 6-0, 7-5 win against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
On TNT Sports, former British No 1 Laura Robson put Boisson’s incredible run into perspective.
“Well, how quickly things can change,” Robson said. “12 months ago, to be having surgery on your ACL. Probably the lowest moment of her career, she thought she was going to have a wildcard into Roland Garros… And then now to be in a quarter-final.
French Open News
Lois Boisson achieves incredible French Open feats with stunning Jessica Pegula win
Who is Lois Boisson? French Open star
“We looked up her career prize money, which was $148,000. To make the quarters here is €440,000. Not that it’s about the money, but sometimes it is when you’re ranked where she is.”
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander revealed how impressed he is with the young French star.
“Her forehand is unbelievable and it has so much spin on it, I was down there watching it live in the third set and it’s amazing how high it bounces,” assessed the Swede.
“I love the variety, I love the slice backhand. You just wonder where she’s been, obviously she’s been injured. But what a great player she is. She has the perfect clay-court game. And now it turns out that she knows how to use the crowd as well.
“So, I say watch out for her because she now believes that she can go further.”
Boisson, who defeated Elise Mertens, Anhelina Kalinina and Elsa Jacquemot in her first three matches, will face No 6 seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals.
