Tennis player Boisson to compete in Wimbledon qualifiers following wildcard exclusion
Fresh Take:
Petra Kvitova and eight other ladies, including British players like Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, and Heather Watson, were invited to the Wimbledon Championships, starting June 30. The 35-year-old Czech, ranked 572nd, returned to the circuit following her son's birth in 2024. French upstart Lois Boisson, who gained a wildcard for the 2025 French Open, made quite a splash at the tournament, slicing through the bottom half of the women's singles draw.
The young Frenchwoman, who climbed from No. 361 to nearly 70 in the WTA rankings after her impressive run at Roland Garros, faced off against Jessica Pegula, yielding a historic victory as the first home-town heroine to reach the quarters since 2017.Her journey continued, with raucous partisans cheering her on in the center court stands, enabling her to reach the semis, albeit falling short against Coco Gauff.
Demonstrating impressive poise and precision, Gauff claimed the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. Despite the loss, Boisson left the competition with a hefty 660,000 euros in prize money and 780 points under her belt. These gains nearly propelled her into the Wimbledon main draw, but a missed opportunity as her ranking was 358th when the draw was set in May. Still, she's expected to be among the seeded players in the Wimbledon qualifying competition, set to begin on June 23.
With grass experience limited, Boisson took to social media to share her first practice sessions on the unfamiliar surface. Ivan Ljubicic, head of elite performance at the FFT, conceded that her aggressive topspin approach might not work as well on grass but expressed confidence in her ability to adapt and compete.
Meanwhile, Lois's ease on clay courts, her background practicing primarily on this surface, may prove beneficial when navigating the grass courts of Wimbledon. To progress, she'll need to adjust to the quicker pace and prepare for longer rallies, focusing on dominating the net and sharpening her slice shots.
France's male hope, Arthur Rinderknech, propelled himself into the limelight after a surprising win against the sixth seed at the Halle tournament. With the injured Arthur Fils out of commission, Rinderknech is anticipated to take on a significant role in the third Grand Slam tournament of the season. Other previous French standouts, such as Ugo Humbert and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, have faced setbacks in recent tournaments, but the tennis world eagerly awaits the upcoming Wimbledon performances.
- France's progress in international sports continues, with Lois Boisson's impressive run in tennis, reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon and earning a significant amount of prize money.
- As the United States prepares for Wimbledon, Jessica Pegula will perhaps remember her historic match against Lois Boisson, the first Frenchwoman to reach the quarters since 2017, as they both represent their respective countries in women's singles.
- With Lois Boisson's success on clay, and Arthur Rinderknech's recent victory on grass, the tennis scene at Wimbledon promises an exciting display of French talent, particularly as both players adapt their strategies to excel on the grass courts.
