Low-ranked French athlete Lois Boisson stepped onto the courts of Roland Garros, carrying the label of the 361st best player globally. Transforming into the fairy tale figure of the home nation.
Stunning Debut: Lois Boisson's Magical Run at French Open
Let's revive the conversation around Lois Boisson, the French tennis sensation who's stealing the limelight for breathtaking reasons. After a string of unfortunate incidents, she's finally in the limelight, leaving the controversial Harriet Dart moment far behind.
Remember the wild card entry from Roland Garros who's currently ranked No. 361 in the world? That's right! The 22-year-old Lois Boisson made headlines this week as she came back from a set down to conquer world No. 3, Jessica Pegula, to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Astonishingly, Boisson became the lowest-ranked player to storm into the last eight at Roland Garros since Serena Williams, then world No. 451, made her grand slam return in 2018 following the birth of her first daughter. This young warrior has become the lowest-ranked player to reach the quarterfinals at any of the four major tennis tournaments since Kaia Kanepi, ranked 418th, made waves at the 2017 US Open.
Tennis's Cinderella Story in the Making
Talk about making a grand entrance! Boisson's victory over Pegula marked a 17-year gap since a women's singles player, Carla Suarez Navarro, reached the quarterfinals in her grand slam main draw debut at Roland Garros.
The Dijon-born prodigy had her WTA Tour debut in 2021 and clinched her first WTA 125 title in May 2024 in Saint-Malo. Expectations were high for her Roland Garros main draw debut, but her dreams were shattered a week before the tournament due to a torn ACL – a devastating injury that kept her out of action for nine months.
Recovering from her injury and undergoing ACL and meniscus surgery, Boisson shared her emotional rollercoaster month on Instagram, expressing her determination to bounce back and reach the pinnacle:
"I was heading for the tournaments I've been dreaming of since I started playing tennis. In the space of a week, I went from 'collapsed' to the ground with joy after winning my first WTA title, to 'collapsed' to the ground because my knee was unbearably painful. The shock was intense, I didn't imagine the rest of the season unfolding this way...But this is the path that life has chosen for me, now it's time for discipline to get back to the top!"
Swiftly recovering and finding her form once again, Boisson reentered the competition scene at the end of February and managed her first career victory against a top-25 player, Elise Mertens. Amazingly, she accomplished another milestone by defeating a player from the top five, Pegula, in her initial attempt – two victories in two matches against opponents with a combined total of 17 career WTA singles titles.
As the only French representative still standing in both the men's and women's singles draws, Boisson will square off against world No. 6 teenage sensation, Mirra Andreeva, in the quarters.
Enrichment Data
Boisson made her grand slam debut at Roland Garros 2025 after an injury-related absence from the sport, where she achieved a remarkable run to the semifinals.
During her epic run, she triumphed over two top-10 players, Mirra Andreeva (world No. 6) and Jessica Pegula (world No. 3).
Boisson significantly boosted her career earnings with her performance at the French Open, moving from $148,009 to over $785,000.
Her success at Roland Garros catapulted her to stardom in French tennis, and she's now a contender for the No. 1 spot in her home country.
Boisson had to withdraw from a tournament in 2024 due to a torn ACL, sidelining her for nine months.
In 2021, she won her first WTA 125 title in Saint-Malo and achieved a ranking of 152, securing her a spot in the Roland Garros main draw.
Boisson's remarkable victory over Jessica Pegula in the French Open marks her conquest of a top-3 player, showcasing her skills in the sport of tennis. After her triumph, she now prepares to face Mirra Andreeva, the teenage sensation, in a highly anticipated tennis match at the French Open.
