Boisson wants fairytale end to ‘dream’ Paris run

Lois Boisson, the world number 361, says she wants to fulfill a “dream” from her youth by winning her home Grand Slam and that she is unhappy with beating the odds to reach the French Open semi-finals.

With a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 victory over Mirra Andreeva, Boisson, who had been a wildcard, ensured her fairytale run would continue.

The Frenchwoman will meet Coco Gauff, the second-ranked player, in the final four after defeating three seeded players.

Every tennis player has the potential to win a Grand Slam, according to Boisson, 22.

“I will pursue the dream because I want to win, not to be in the semi-final.” Therefore, I’ll make every effort to help.

Boisson, who was playing in her first Grand Slam main draw, was supposed to be the wildcard last year but had to withdraw due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee a week before the French Open was scheduled to begin.

She continued, “I don’t believe it’s a miracle.”

“I’ve had a little bit of luck, but I think it’s just the work I’ve put in since I started playing tennis and since my rehab last year.

It is the result of diligent work. Nothing more. “

Boisson, who won matches against world number 31 Elise Mertens, third-ranked Jessica Pegula, and now Russian Andreeva, returned to the WTA Tour in April after suffering a knee injury. She has since proved to be the surprise package of her home major.

Early breaks were traded before 18-year-old Andreeva regained control in a testing first set.

Boisson, who has the word “resilience” tattooed on her arm, did, however, get a crucial break when 5-4 down.

Boisson eventually won the tie-break after she had three shots at set points, but Andreeva held on for the final three.

Boisson broke in her first service game and led 3-0 in the second set before launching her defense with the aid of a partisan crowd who yelled her name.

A vicious forehand down the line gave her a 3-2 lead and established a strong forehand in her favor.

Andreeva reacted by slamming her fist into her knee and throwing a ball into the crowd as Court Philippe Chatrier’s cauldron over the roof.

Boisson won her fifth game in a row after a second break gave her control of the set before surviving two break points to win the match.

Boisson, who turned professional in 2021, last year was competing on the third rung of the women’s tennis team.

In the run-up to the 2024 French Open, she won three ITF Circuit titles and a WTA Challenger competition in May to claim a wildcard for her home Grand Slam.

Boisson’s desire to compete at Roland Garros was thwarted by an ACL injury to her left knee, which prevented her from being able to watch the tournament unfold.

Boisson used neurovisual training, including sight tests, buzzer reaction tests, and using virtual reality headsets to keep her reactions focused, to speed up her recovery.

When she made her way back to the WTA Tour in February, she made a comeback and defeated Briton Harriet Dart to win the tournament’s opening match.

After Dart was forced to apologize to Boisson after asking the umpire to order her opponent to use deodorant, that match became famous.

However, Boisson recognized the humorous side of the situation and later corrected it by posting a photo of her putting on some deodorant and telling the company Dove they “need a collab.”

Between his return from injury and the start of the French Open, Boisson only participated in one of the eight matches.

By the time her run is over, Boisson will have made a significant climb up the world rankings, placing her live in 65th place.

She is now the French No. 1 despite starting the tournament as the 24th-ranked female player in her country.

Before this run at Roland Garros, the right-hander from Dijon had never even played a player who was in the top 50 of the world, and he has since won three games, two of which are in the top 10, including two that were in the top 10.

Boisson had already won 130, 000 euros (£109, 492) in career prizes before beginning her campaign at the French Open, but her semi-final victory has already earned her 690, 000 euros (£581, 152).