In a breathtaking display of tenacity and skill, the 2025 French Open witnessed one of its most astonishing upsets on June 2, as French wildcard Lois Boisson, ranked a staggering No. 361 in the world, toppled third seed and World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in a thrilling fourth-round clash. The match, played on the iconic clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier, ended with Boisson securing a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory, sending shockwaves through Roland Garros and igniting a frenzy among the home crowd. This triumph marked Boisson’s first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance and her first win against a top-10 opponent, cementing her status as the tournament’s Cinderella story.
Boisson, a 22-year-old Dijon native, entered the French Open with little fanfare, having only made her WTA Tour debut in April and recovering from a devastating knee injury—an ACL and meniscus tear—that sidelined her for nine months. Her journey to the quarterfinals is nothing short of remarkable, as she became the first French wildcard to reach this stage at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce in 2002 and the lowest-ranked female quarterfinalist at a Grand Slam since Kaia Kanepi in 2017. “I’m not sure what to say. Playing on this court, with this atmosphere, was amazing,” Boisson said, her voice trembling with emotion as the packed crowd chanted her name. “I gave my all and in the end I won, which is just incredible.”
The match began with Pegula, the 2024 US Open finalist and a seven-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, asserting her dominance. The 31-year-old American, known for her flat groundstrokes and relentless consistency, broke Boisson’s serve at 3-3 in the first set and cruised to a 6-3 lead, appearing poised for a routine victory. However, Boisson, fueled by the electric energy of the 15,000-strong crowd, found her rhythm in the second set. A pivotal backhand winner secured a crucial break, and she served out the set to love, leveling the match at 6-4. The third set was a rollercoaster, with both players trading breaks early on. At 4-4, Boisson seized her moment, converting her fourth break-point opportunity with a deft drop shot that left Pegula scrambling. Facing immense pressure while serving for the match, Boisson saved four break points with a mix of delicate touch and powerful forehands, ultimately sealing the victory with a thunderous forehand down the line after a grueling two hours and 40 minutes.
Boisson’s tactical brilliance was evident as she disrupted Pegula’s rhythm with heavy spin, drop shots, and lobs, exposing the American’s struggles on the slow clay. Pegula, who has a 52-25 win-loss record at Grand Slams, admitted post-match that she couldn’t find her footing against Boisson’s unpredictable shot selection. Social media erupted with fans marveling at the upset, with one noting, “Boisson was running around her backhand and Pegula kept hitting to her forehand. Pegula tactics and no clutch gene.” Another praised the match’s intensity, saying, “I had no idea who was going to win until the final point. So many times I thought Pegula would break back. What a win, what a person to win against, and what a way to do it.”
For Boisson, whose career highlight before this tournament was a minor controversy involving a comment from Britain’s Harriet Dart, this victory is a testament to her resilience—a word tattooed on her right elbow as a reminder of her recovery from injury. Her improbable run has propelled her to a projected ranking of around No. 120, with a potential top-70 spot if she advances further. As she prepares to face sixth seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals, Boisson carries the hopes of a nation, aiming to become the first Frenchwoman to reach the Roland Garros semifinals since Marion Bartoli in 2011. With the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd behind her, Boisson’s fairytale is far from over, and the tennis world is watching in awe as this unheralded wildcard continues to defy the odds.
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