France has a new tennis darling—and her name is Lois Boisson.
The 22-year-old came into Roland Garros ranked No. 361 in the world. Most casual fans hadn’t heard her name before the tournament. But now? She’s the Cinderella story of the French Open, and the entire country is rallying behind her.
A Match to Remember
Boisson’s run officially turned legendary when she pulled off a jaw-dropping comeback win over world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the round of 16. And then she kept the magic going—beating No. 6 seed Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to book her spot in the semifinals. Just like that, a wild card who started the tourney as an underdog is now one win away from the final.
Thanks to this run, Boisson will skyrocket up the rankings—landing somewhere near world No. 68 when the tournament wraps. Not bad for someone outside the top 300 just a week ago.
Breaking Records Left and Right
Boisson is making history with nearly every match she plays. She’s now the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 40 years—and only the third woman ever to make it this far in her very first major appearance (shoutout to Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati).
She’s also the first women’s singles player since 2008 to reach the quarterfinals on her Slam debut, and the first player outside the top 300 to beat two top-10 players at the same tournament since Serena Williams.
And let’s not forget: she’s the only French player still standing in the men’s or women’s singles draw. The crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier? Loud. Deservedly so.
From Injury to Inspiration
Boisson’s rise hasn’t been smooth. Last year, after winning her first WTA 125 title in Saint-Malo and going on an 18-match win streak, she was set to make her Roland Garros debut—until an ACL injury crushed those plans just days before the event. Surgery, rehab, and months away from the court followed.
She shared the experience on Instagram:
“In the space of a week, I went from winning my first title to collapsing in pain. I didn’t imagine the rest of the season this way… But this is the path life chose for me.”
That discipline she talked about? It’s paying off in the biggest way.
What’s Next?
Boisson now faces world No. 2 Coco Gauff in the semis. Win or lose, she’s already turned heads and stolen hearts. But if the past week is any indication—she’s not done yet.
Paris might just have a new queen.
