PARIS — World No. 361 Lois Boisson is scripting one of the most remarkable underdog stories in recent French Open history, advancing to the semifinals with a stunning straight-sets victory over sixth seed Mirra Andreeva. The 22-year-old French wildcard, who had never previously won a Grand Slam main-draw match, is now just two wins away from completing what she calls a "dream" run on home soil.
A Fairytale Unfolds at Roland Garros
Boisson's 6-4, 7-5 quarterfinal triumph over the 17-year-old Russian prodigy sent Court Philippe-Chatrier into raptures. The Parisian, who trains at nearby Roland Garros' training center, fought back tears as she acknowledged the crowd's standing ovation. "This feels like a movie," she said in her post-match interview. "Every time I step on court, I just try to enjoy the moment because I know how special this is."
Her improbable journey includes:
- Qualifying for her first Grand Slam main draw
- Defeating former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia in Round 2
- Becoming the lowest-ranked French Open semifinalist since 1983
- Dropping just one set en route to the final four
Tactical Masterclass Against Andreeva
Boisson's victory was built on relentless baseline consistency and intelligent use of slice backhands to disrupt Andreeva's rhythm. The Russian teenager, who had been favored after her Madrid Open final run, committed 34 unforced errors against Boisson's 18. "I knew I had to make her uncomfortable," Boisson explained. "She's so talented, so I tried to vary the pace and spin."
Key Match Statistics
The numbers reveal Boisson's dominance:
- First serve percentage: 72% (Andreeva 58%)
- Break points converted: 4/7 (57%)
- Net points won: 14/18 (78%)
From Club Tennis to Center Court
Just twelve months ago, Boisson was competing in ITF $25K events and considering quitting professional tennis. "I was losing in first rounds of small tournaments," she admitted. "My coach believed in me when no one else did. We changed my forehand grip and worked on my mental toughness."
Her coach, former ATP player Julien Benneteau, described the transformation: "Lois always had the talent but lacked self-belief. When she got the wildcard, we treated it as a bonus opportunity with zero pressure. Now she's playing with complete freedom."
Semifinal Showdown with Swiatek
Next awaits the ultimate test - world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who is riding a 16-match French Open winning streak. The Pole leads their head-to-head 2-0, including a 6-0, 6-1 demolition in last year's Warsaw qualifying. "I'm a completely different player now," Boisson asserted. "I'll give everything and see what happens."
Swiatek offered respect for her opponent: "Lois is playing incredible tennis. These home players always find extra energy here. I'll need to be at my best." The match will mark the largest ranking gap (360 spots) between French Open semifinalists in Open Era history.
French Tennis Finds New Hope
Boisson's run has electrified French tennis, coming during a transitional period for the nation's women's game. She's the first French semifinalist since Marion Bartoli in 2011 and could become the first home champion since Mary Pierce in 2000. French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton stated: "Lois represents everything we want in our players - fighting spirit, humility, and passion."
The impact extends beyond results. Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo revealed Boisson's matches have drawn record domestic TV ratings for early-round women's matches. "She's captured the imagination of the public," Mauresmo said. "People love an underdog story."
Dreaming Big
As Boisson prepares for her semifinal, she's allowing herself to imagine lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. "When I was little, I'd pretend to win Roland Garros in my backyard," she smiled. "Now I'm two matches away. Whatever happens, this has already been the most beautiful week of my life."
With her ranking set to rise inside the top 150 regardless of the semifinal result, Boisson has secured direct entry to Wimbledon. But first, she aims to extend her Parisian fairytale against the most dominant clay-court player of this generation.
As night fell over Roland Garros, groundskeepers could be seen preparing Court Philippe-Chatrier for Thursday's semifinal - the same court where Boisson once worked as a ball girl. The circle will complete when she walks out as a main character in her own dream.