By Maybelene Marcelino
Lois Boisson’s improbable journey to the French Open semi-finals wasn’t merely a sporting achievement but also a symbol of hope, resilience and pursuit of dreams.
A fairytale in Paris
The 22-year-old wildcard, ranked 361st in the world, defied expectations when she defeated sixth-seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3, in front of a boisterous Parisian crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Boisson trailed 3-1 and 5-3 in the first set but managed to save set points, turning the tide of the match in her favour.
With Andreeva faltering in the second set despite a 3-0 lead, Boisson displayed remarkable consistency and won the last six games.
“The first set was super intense, and I was really struggling at the start of the second, but I managed to regroup and finish like that,” said the French player, AFP reported.
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Lowest-ranked semi-finalist in 40 years
Boisson’s victory marked a defining milestone in her career as she became the lowest-ranked Grand Slam semi-finalist in 40 years since Amelie Mauresmo at Wimbledon in 1999.
She also emerged as the first French semi-finalist at her home Grand Slam event since Marion Bartoli in 2011 – and the first in the Open Era to do it as a wildcard. The last Frenchwoman to win the title at Roland-Garros was Mary Pierce, 25 years ago.
Last year, Boisson suffered a devastating knee injury that prevented her from accepting an invitation to play and made her endure six months of grueling rehabilitation.
“It’s incredible, no matter what, given what happened last year and all the difficult moments I went through,” she said during her post-match interview. She shared that the crowd’s passionate support fueled her every move, turning her entire quarter-final game into a cauldron of energy.
“It gave me the chill, I have to say. But it was extraordinary to have the crowd supporting me so much,” she noted.
‘Going for the dream’
A guaranteed climb to at least No. 68 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) world rankings awaits Boisson on Monday.
Further success in the semis, where she takes on Coco Gauff, could boost her ranking even higher.
“Every kid who plays tennis dreams to win a Slam,” Boisson said. “More for French players, to win Roland-Garros. For sure I will go for the dream because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semi-finals.”
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