From Obscurity to Semifinalist: Lois Boisson’s Journey
A week ago, the name Lois Boisson was unknown in the global tennis scene. Ranked 361st, she arrived at Roland Garros with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Born in Dijon, France, 22 years ago, Boisson had never played a Grand Slam main draw. Her dream became reality thanks to a wildcard invitation from the French Tennis Federation, and soon after, she etched her name in history as a semifinalist.
Breaking Records and Defying Odds
Boisson’s performance at Roland Garros has resulted in several notable records. Most impressively, she became the first female wildcard to reach the semifinals in the Open Era. Additionally, she is only the second player in the last 40 years to defeat two top-10 opponents in a Grand Slam’s main draw, having previously beaten Jessica Pegula (3) in the round of 16 and Mirra Andreeva (6) in the quarterfinals. Monica Seles achieved this feat in 1989 at Roland Garros.
Moreover, Boisson is the third player in the last 45 years to reach the semifinals in her debut at a Grand Slam’s main draw, joining Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati, who accomplished this feat at Roland Garros in 1989 and 1990, respectively.
Boisson’s Focus: Winning the Roland Garros Title
Boisson’s ultimate goal is to lift the trophy this Saturday, June 7th, in front of her home country’s fans. “I don’t think this is a miracle; it’s just the result of the effort I’ve put in since I started playing tennis,” she said after defeating Andreeva.
“I believe all kids who play tennis dream of winning a Grand Slam, and for a French player, the dream is to win Roland Garros. It’s a dream, so I’ll go for it. My goal isn’t just to reach the semifinals; I want to win,” Boisson stated.
Historical Context and Pressure
France has not had a female singles champion at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce’s victory in 2000, making Boisson’s potential triumph historically significant. “I don’t think all players feel the pressure in the same way; perhaps most French players do. It’s something you have to deal with if you want to win any match,” Boisson acknowledged.
Ranking Ascension and Recovery from Injury
Beyond her potential title, Boisson has already climbed nearly 300 ranking positions, rising to No. 65 following her semifinal appearance. This surpasses her previous best ranking of 152 at the start of 2024, now surpassing Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sakkari.
The ranking is not a concern for Boisson, who focuses on the present tournament: “I don’t think about what’s to come. I just try to concentrate on this tournament, enjoy every achievement on and off the court. I’ll look at those other things once the tournament is over. For now, I only think about my next match, and I don’t pay much attention to social media.”
Semifinals and Final Matches at Roland Garros 2025
The women’s final at Roland Garros 2025 will be determined on Thursday, with the enticing semifinal matches. Lois Boisson will face Coco Gauff, while another powerful WTA rivalry unfolds as Iga Swiatek faces Aryna Sabalenka.
