LONDON — French tennis sensation Lois Boisson, who captured hearts with her breakout performance at Roland Garros, saw her hopes of a maiden Wimbledon main-draw appearance dashed in the first round of qualifying. The 21-year-old, ranked No. 147 in the world, fell to Belgium’s Greet Minnen in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) on Court 14 at the All England Club.
Boisson, who reached the third round at the French Open last month—her best Grand Slam result to date—struggled to replicate that form on grass. Minnen, a seasoned qualifier with previous Wimbledon experience, capitalized on Boisson’s unforced errors (28 in total) and inconsistent serve (winning just 54% of first-serve points). "Grass is not my natural surface, but I wanted to fight for every point," Boisson said in her post-match press conference.
A Promising Start Cut Short
Boisson’s Roland Garros run, which included a stunning upset over 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, had raised expectations for her grass-court season. However, the transition from clay to grass proved challenging. Key factors in her defeat included:
- Serve Struggles: Boisson landed only 58% of her first serves, compared to Minnen’s 72%.
- Net Play: Won just 8 of 18 net approaches, while Minnen converted 12 of 15.
- Break Points: Saved only 3 of 7 break points faced, while failing to convert any of her 4 opportunities.
Minnen, ranked No. 112, praised Boisson’s potential but highlighted the tactical gap: "She’s dangerous on clay, but grass requires quicker adjustments. I focused on keeping her moving and exploiting her weaker backhand slice."
Grass-Court Growing Pains
Boisson’s early exit underscores the difficulties young clay-court specialists face adapting to grass. Her coach, Julien Cassaigne, acknowledged the learning curve: "Lois has the athleticism to excel on grass, but it’ll take time. We’ll work on her footwork and serve-and-volley confidence before next season."
Historical Context
Only three Frenchwomen have reached the Wimbledon main draw via qualifying in the past decade (Alizé Cornet, Caroline Garcia, and Fiona Ferro). Boisson’s defeat continues France’s recent struggles on grass—a surface that accounts for just 12% of French players’ career match wins, per ITF data.
Looking Ahead
Boisson will shift focus to the upcoming hard-court season, where she aims to break into the top 100. "Wimbledon was a dream, but the US Open is my next goal," she stated. Her schedule includes WTA 250 events in Budapest and Lausanne, where she’ll seek to build momentum.
Meanwhile, Minnen advanced to the second round of qualifying, edging closer to her third Wimbledon main-draw appearance. The Belgian later told reporters: "Qualifying is brutal—every match feels like a final. Lois has a bright future, but today, experience made the difference."
For Boisson, the loss marks a temporary setback in a breakout season. Her Roland Garros prize money ($158,000) and ranking points have already secured direct entry into upcoming majors, sparing her future qualifying campaigns. As Cassaigne noted: "This hurts now, but she’ll be back stronger. Grass won’t always be her weakness."
The All England Club’s qualifying rounds continue through Thursday, with main-draw play beginning July 1. Boisson’s fans will now turn their attention to her hard-court preparations, hoping her clay-court prowess translates to faster surfaces in 2025.