Fortune heiress succumbs to challenge posed by novice contender, who ranks significantly lower at 358 spots in a stunning unexpected loss at French Open
French Open Shocks Again: Pegula Ousted by Rookie Boisson
The French Open delivered another jaw-dropper, with World No. 3 Jessica Pegula biting the dust in the fourth round. This time, it was world No. 361 Lois Boisson, a wild card recipient and France's lone remaining singles representative, who claimed the victory.
After dropping the opening set, Boisson stormed back to take the match in a thrilling 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory. This sets up a quarterfinal faceoff against Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.
Despite being ranked 358 spots below her American adversary and making her Grand Slam main-draw debut, Boisson battled like a battle-hardened veteran. She electrified a raucous crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier by bouncing back from a disheartening start to claim a historic win.
The gripping three-hour match, filled with nail-biting moments and tense break-point exchanges, captivated spectators. In an extraordinary end game, Boisson saved multiple break points before finally serving out the set and the victory.
Digging Deeper: The Forgotten American Tennis Star
Forty years ago, a Frenchwoman last graced the French Open quarterfinals, with Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic being the last to achieve this in 2017.
Boisson's fairy-tale run has seen her become the lowest ranked woman to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam since Kaia Kanepi in the 2017 US Open, ranked No. 418. In the current tournament, she's the lowest to reach this stage at the French Open in four decades, per Opta Ace.
Despite growing up as the daughter of Terry Pegula, who owns the NFL's Buffalo Bills and boasts a net worth of over $7 billion, Pegula couldn't keep up with Boisson's remarkable energy in the deciding set.
Boisson now takes her bid for historical glory one step further, aiming to emulate Mary Pierce, the last Frenchwoman to win the title, who claimed victory in 2000.
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As she reveled in the aftermath of her victory, Boisson couldn't suppress a beaming smile. "I'm not sure what to say. Playing on this court, with this atmosphere, was amazing," she gushed. "I gave my all and in the end, I won, which is just incredible. I hope I'm going to win it all!"
The exuberant crowd, showering her with chants of "Lois!," echoed her infectious enthusiasm. Regardless of the outcome moving forward, Boisson's defeat of Pegula will propel her to a career-high ranking after the tournament.
After climbing from the depths of despair following a serious knee injury, Boisson is projected to rise to around No.120 in the rankings. If she pulls off another upset against Andreeva, her ranking could soar as high as No.68.
The comeback kid's remarkable journey took an unexpected turn last year, when an ACL injury kept her sidelined for nine months, just weeks before she was scheduled to receive a wild card into the French Open.
Now, armed with a year-delayed wildcard invitation to the 2025 French Open, Boisson has seized the opportunity and made an unforgettable impact on the tennis world. And this brave young competitor shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The unforeseen victory of Boisson over Pegula, a tennis prodigy from a family with NFL connections, marks a significant shift in the tennis world, echoing the energy and spirit that football (NFL) fans often exhibit. In the coming days, Boisson's rankings in tennis sports may even reach heights that mirror impressive NFL player rankings.
