Stunning French tennis narrative unfolds in Paris

Roland Garros Showdown

Stunning French tennis narrative unfolds in Paris

Paris - In a thrilling twist at the French Open, world No. 2 Coco Gauff outshone wildcard player and local sensation Lois Boisson, clinching a spot in the final with a 6-1, 6-2 win in the semifinals.

What a fairytale run it's been for Boisson, the 22-year-old Frenchwoman from Dijon who made history as the first wildcard player in the Open Era to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, her Main Draw debut at a major event.

Gauff will face the mighty World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday. The Belarusian pocketed a spot with a grueling 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland, bringing an end to Swiatek's impressive 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros.

Swiatek, who had triumphed at the Paris tournament for the last three years, discontinuing a streak of 26 consecutive victories at the tournament, faces her first final defeat at Roland Garros. Sabalenka, on the other hand, is sailing into her inaugural final at Roland Garros.

Gauff's 69-Minute Domination

Boisson suffered a crushing defeat against Gauff, a match that Boisson struggled to keep up with from the word go. Gauff took control of the game and claimed victory in a swift 69 minutes. "I know you all would've wanted to see her win," Gauff grinned after the match, "every time you cheered for her, I was secretly clapping for myself.", she added.

Sabalenka and Swiatek's Epic Battle

Sabalenka fought tooth and nail to secure her spot in the final, faced with a formidable challenge from World No. 1 and reigning champion Swiatek. Their match extended beyond the two-hour mark. Sabalenka kicked off the game strongly but Swiatek gave as good as she got, and it took a nerve-wracking tiebreak for Sabalenka to clinch the first set. Swiatek then reciprocated by leveling the match, but Sabalenka raised her game in the final set, asserting her dominance with a 6-0 win.

"It's indescribable, but the journey's not over yet. I've still got one more match left to win", Sabalenka, who has already captured three Grand Slam titles, said, beaming with confidence.

Boisson, who made headlines with her remarkable performance at the French Open, was born on May 16, 2003, in Dijon. She has a rich tennis background, amassing considerable attention for her performance at the 2025 French Open, becoming the first wildcard player in the Open Era to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament. This achievement also marked her main-draw debut in a major competition. Before conquering Roland Garros, Boisson had already secured three ITF Circuit titles and her first WTA 125 title in Saint-Malo. Despite the defeat, her run during the tournament has demonstrated exceptional promise for the French tennis player, expected to propel her rankings significantly, potentially reaching as high as No. 61, and becoming the top-ranked French player.

"Gauff's tennis skills shone brightly in her sports victory against Boisson, securing a place in the final for her upcoming match against Sabalenka in the Roland Garros tournament."

"Boisson's tennis career reached new heights after her remarkable run at Roland Garros, making history as the first wildcard player in the Open Era to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, during her Main Draw debut at a major event."