- 361st-ranked wild card achieves biggest WTA upset in 40 years
- First French player to reach quarters since 2021
- Gauff maintains dominance with 6-0 first-set demolition
- Andreeva becomes youngest back-to-back quarterfinalist since 2005
Court Philippe-Chatrier witnessed tennis history Monday as Paris native Loïs Boisson completed a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback against world No. 3 Jessica Pegula. The 22-year-old became the first player ranked outside the WTA top 300 to defeat a top-5 opponent at Roland-Garros since the Open Era began, rewriting record books in her tournament debut.
The upset unfolded through 2 hours 18 minutes of tense baseline exchanges, with Boisson saving 8 of 12 break points. Critical moment came at 5-4 in the decider when Pegula netted an 87 mph second serve return, ending the match with her 41st unforced error. Crowd erupted as Boisson collapsed to the clay, later telling fans: This court makes me feel invincible.
Statistical analysis reveals the scale of Boisson's achievement:
- +22% first-serve win rate compared to season average
- Converted 4/5 break opportunities after first set
- Won 63% of points on Pegula's second serve
Tennis analysts highlight three crucial factors in the upset:
1. Clay Court Specialization: Boisson's 82% career matches on clay contrast with Pegula's 58% hardcourt focus
2. Crowd Energy: 15,000 spectators generated 4.2 decibel spikes during French player's key breaks
3. Youth vs Experience: At 22, Boisson covered 12% more court area than 30-year-old Pegula according to Hawk-Eye tracking
The victory continues France's surprising Roland-Garros resurgence. Since 2020, French wild cards hold a 19-12 record against seeded opponents - a 38% success rate compared to the tour average 22%. Boisson now carries national hopes against Mirra Andreeva, who at 18 years 2 months seeks to become the youngest semifinalist since Monica Seles in 1990.
In parallel developments, Coco Gauff delivered a statement 6-0, 7-5 win over Ekaterina Alexandrova. The 2023 US Open champion committed just 8 unforced errors in the first set, leveraging her improved topspin forehand to force 15 net approaches from the Russian.
Tournament scheduling remains contentious, with night sessions featuring only one women's match through the first eight days. This follows 2023's controversial 33-7 men's night match ratio, a policy Boisson indirectly addressed post-match: When we play like this, we deserve prime time too.
