The 2025 French Open women’s singles tournament delivered a seismic upset on the clay courts of Roland Garros, as 18-year-old Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva, the No. 6 seed, fell to France’s unheralded wildcard Lois Boisson, ranked No. 361 in the world, in a gripping quarterfinal clash. The 7-6(6), 6-3 defeat ended Andreeva’s hopes of reaching her second consecutive Roland Garros semifinal, while propelling Boisson, a 22-year-old local hero, into the spotlight as the lowest-ranked woman to reach the French Open semifinals in four decades. Meanwhile, American star Coco Gauff battled through a grueling three-set match against compatriot Madison Keys to secure her place in the semifinals, setting up an electrifying showdown with Boisson.
Andreeva, who entered the tournament as one of the favorites after a stellar clay season that included WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, appeared poised to continue her meteoric rise. At just 18, she had already made history as the youngest player to reach back-to-back Roland Garros quarterfinals since Martina Hingis in 1998. Her campaign had been flawless until the quarterfinals, with straight-set victories over opponents like Daria Kasatkina and Cristina Bucsa. However, against Boisson, Andreeva unraveled under the pressure of a raucous Parisian crowd and her own mounting frustration. “Sometimes I was a bit emotional,” Andreeva admitted post-match. “Today was one of those days when it’s just a bit harder to deal with everything that’s going on in the court.”
The match began competitively, with Andreeva’s sharp backhand and problem-solving skills keeping her in contention. She served for the first set at 5-3, but Boisson, fueled by the energy of 15,000 French fans, saved a set point with a pinpoint lob and clawed her way back to force a tiebreak. Boisson’s powerful forehand, described as a “howitzer,” began to dominate, and after saving another set point, she clinched the tiebreak 8-6. The second set saw Andreeva’s composure falter further. A double fault and a wayward forehand handed Boisson a crucial break at 3-4, and the Russian’s frustration boiled over when she fired a ball into the stands, earning a code violation and boos from the crowd. “I was not really happy with some points and some shots and decisions I made today,” Andreeva said, reflecting on the stress that overwhelmed her. Boisson, in contrast, thrived under the pressure, sealing the victory with a final forehand that drew a missed backhand from Andreeva. “It was extraordinary to have the crowd supporting me so much,” Boisson said, her voice filled with emotion. “Even though sometimes it’s a bit raucous, the crowd is pushing me, and it’s great.”
Boisson’s improbable run is a story of resilience. A year ago, she was sidelined by a torn ACL, unable to even watch Roland Garros after receiving a wildcard entry. Now, she’s the first Frenchwoman to reach the semifinals since Marion Bartoli in 2011, having also upset world No. 3 Jessica Pegula earlier in the tournament. “My dream is to win it, not to be in the semifinal,” Boisson declared, signaling her ambition ahead of her clash with Gauff.
Coco Gauff, the world No. 2, earned her semifinal spot with a hard-fought 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 victory over No. 7 seed Madison Keys in an all-American quarterfinal. The match was a test of endurance, with both players struggling with errors—Keys racked up 60 unforced errors to Gauff’s 41. Gauff trailed 4-1 in the first set, but her relentless defense and improved serving helped her storm back. After losing the first set in a tiebreak, she found her rhythm, capitalizing on Keys’ mistakes in the third set, where she committed just two unforced errors. “She has a great inside-out and inside-in forehand,” Gauff said of Keys. “I knew that I just had to be able to run today and punish her when the ball came short.” Gauff’s victory marked her as the youngest player since Martina Hingis to win 25 women’s singles main-draw matches at Roland Garros, and she now eyes her second French Open final, having finished as runner-up in 2022.
The upcoming semifinal pits Gauff’s experience against Boisson’s momentum and home-crowd support. Gauff, who has faced hostile crowds before, remains unfazed. “I have done it in the past,” she said. “Either pretend they’re cheering for you, or just use it and not let it get to you.” With a 4-0 head-to-head record against Andreeva, including a straight-sets win at the Italian Open in May 2025, Gauff is favored, but Boisson’s fearless play and the electric atmosphere of Court Philippe-Chatrier promise a thrilling battle. As the women’s draw narrows, with top seed Aryna Sabalenka facing Iga Swiatek in the other semifinal, Gauff and Boisson are poised to write the next chapter in this unforgettable French Open.
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