Just under a month ago, Loïs Boisson was uncertain if she would even participate in the 2025 French Open. Her ranking was outside the top 500, and she had no prior experience in the main draw of a Grand Slam. Her only chance was a wild card, which she didn`t anticipate receiving. However, the 22-year-old French player was granted one by her national federation.
Only weeks later, Boisson has achieved one of the most remarkable performances in the tournament`s history. In a mere two weeks, she transformed from a largely unknown player into a sudden sensation.
On Wednesday, before an captivated, full house on Philippe-Chatrier court, Boisson made history by becoming the first wild card in the Open Era to reach the French Open semifinals. This followed her impressive 7-6 (6), 6-3 win against the 6th seed, Mirra Andreeva. She is also only the third woman in the last four decades to make it to the final four in her first-ever Grand Slam appearance.
After securing the victory, Boisson collapsed onto the clay court, lying on her back with her legs extended. She trembled visibly, covering her face with her hands in disbelief and emotion.
“We are watching a star emerge right before us,” commented Chris Evert, an 18-time major champion, on the television broadcast.
Following her quarterfinal advance on Monday, Boisson mentioned to the press that she wouldn`t have believed anyone who predicted her achievements before the tournament began. However, by Wednesday, she spoke with much greater confidence. Now, this highly improbable semifinalist has the opportunity to etch her name further into history when she plays against the 2nd seed, Coco Gauff, on Thursday, vying for a place in the final.
While many view her story as a Cinderella tale, Boisson clearly stated she wasn`t satisfied with her accomplishments so far.
“Yes, it`s a dream,” Boisson told reporters after her match on Wednesday. “Certainly, I will pursue the dream, because my aspiration is to win the tournament, not just reach the semifinal. Therefore, I will give my utmost effort.”
Although she has dreamed of winning the French Open since childhood, Boisson`s primary goal for the last few years was simply to compete in the event.
After a successful start to her 2024 season, winning three ITF titles and the WTA 125 event in Saint-Malo, she felt closer than ever to her objective. Her ranking climbed to a career-best (at the time) of world No. 152, and her dedication earned her a wild card entry into the French Open. She was overjoyed.
Just days later, while competing in the first round of another WTA 125 tournament, Boisson`s aspirations were shattered instantly when she tore her left ACL. This injury necessitated swift surgery.
At that time, Boisson shared on Instagram, accompanied by a photo from a hospital bed, “I finally felt genuinely fulfilled on the tennis court; my progress was solid, I had a fantastic team around me, and I was about to play in the tournaments I`d dreamt of since I started tennis. Within a week, I went from the exhilaration of winning my first WTA title to collapsing on the ground because my knee failed, causing intense pain. The impact was severe; I never pictured the rest of the season unfolding like this.”
Her recovery was sometimes slow and painful. She was sidelined from competitive play for nine months. Her ranking, earned through significant effort, fell rapidly, making her eager to return.
Boisson officially returned in February and played on clay courts in her third tournament back. Since focusing on the clay surface, she has achieved a 15-6 win-loss record, reached two ITF finals, and secured a title in her last event before coming to Paris.
Although still significantly lower than her previous high, Boisson`s ranking began to rise again. She was ranked No. 361 globally at the beginning of the French Open. Facing the 24th seed, Elise Mertens, in the first round, very few people expected her to even advance to the second round. Her initial odds of winning the championship were listed as 1000-1.
Boisson won in three sets, defeating Mertens 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, in what was then considered the most significant victory of her career. She later described the feeling of winning as “impossible to describe.”
Her confidence increased with every match played. In the second round, Boisson allowed Anhelina Kalinina to win only three games in total. Against her compatriot Elsa Jacquemot in the third round, she showed resilience, recovering after losing the second set 6-0. However, her surprising victory in the fourth round over the 3rd seed, Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open finalist, was the result that captivated everyone`s attention.
Competing on Philippe-Chatrier for the first time in a match (she had practiced there once four years prior), and fueled by the enthusiastic crowd`s support, Boisson used her strong topspin forehand and excellent movement to recover after losing the opening set. This match marked her first-ever victory against a top-10 ranked player, a feat made even more extraordinary given she hadn`t played any opponent ranked inside the top 60 before this tournament began.
After the match, Pegula commented, “She played very well. She appears to have won many matches lately, even if they were at a lower level rather than WTA events, but that`s less important when you`re winning, and her playing style, being mentally tough in crucial moments, is very beneficial. I believe she executed that effectively today.”
In her match on Wednesday against Andreeva, the talented 18-year-old who was a Roland Garros semifinalist in 2024, Boisson became the first player since Monica Seles in 1989 to beat more than one top-10 opponent in their first Grand Slam main draw appearance. She is also the first French woman to reach the Roland Garros semifinals since Marion Bartoli in 2011 and the youngest French woman to make the last four at any Grand Slam since Amelie Mauresmo (now the French Open director) at the 1999 Australian Open.
A defeated Andreeva told reporters, “Yes, I believe she`s now demonstrating that her current ranking doesn`t reflect her true level as a player.”
Surprise successes are not uncommon in women`s Grand Slam tennis. For example, Emma Raducanu, a little-known qualifier, shocked the world by winning the 2021 US Open title. Both Jelena Ostapenko and Barbora Krejcikova won their French Open titles while unseeded. Even Iga Swiatek, now a four-time Roland Garros champion, was ranked just 54th when she first won in 2020. However, in numerous aspects, Boisson`s journey stands out even among these notable upsets.
Furthermore, with top WTA players showing greater consistency recently, a Cinderella run like Boisson`s is increasingly difficult. This French Open was, in fact, the first Grand Slam since the 2005 Australian Open where all top eight seeds reached the second week. Boisson was the sole unseeded player in the quarterfinals and one of only two to reach the fourth round. Her fellow semifinalists—Gauff, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and three-time defending champion Swiatek—are all Grand Slam winners and widely considered the top three players currently.
Boisson is now expected to rise to approximately No. 65 in the rankings released on Monday. Should she beat Gauff, her ranking would jump to around No. 35. An unlikely title victory would place her just outside the top 20. Last month, her total career earnings were slightly over $148,000. Over these two weeks, she has earned about $787,900, with the possibility of becoming an instant millionaire by reaching the final.
Gauff, who won her first quarterfinal match on Wednesday against Madison Keys in three sets, wasn`t certain of her Thursday opponent when she spoke to the press. However, it was apparent she was anticipating a match against Boisson and understood the importance of not underestimating her.
Gauff, aiming for her second Roland Garros final, commented, “Clearly, she`s having an outstanding tournament. I have some familiarity with playing before a crowd that might not be supporting you. It`s something I welcome if that situation arises… I believe it`s simply something I will mentally prepare for, expect, and be ready to face.”
Boisson stated to reporters that she would not prepare for the match against Gauff any differently than she did for her earlier opponents, emphasizing that she doesn`t consider rankings. “We analyze the opponent`s game, and I execute my game plan; that`s all there is to it,” she explained straightforwardly.
Regardless of Thursday`s outcome, Boisson`s career and life have unquestionably undergone a permanent change. Although she won`t receive direct entry into Wimbledon due to the ranking cutoff having passed, she has effectively guaranteed her spot in the US Open and most other tournaments she wishes to enter soon. However, on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the most significant moment of her professional career, her focus remained solely on the upcoming semifinal.
While many are astonished by her achievements in Paris, Boisson herself is not surprised.
“I don`t believe it`s a miracle,” Boisson commented. “Certainly, some luck is involved, but I think it`s primarily the result of the hard work I`ve dedicated since I began playing tennis, including my rehabilitation last year. It`s simply the outcome of hard work, nothing more.”
Marcus Bellamy