The Times of India at Roland Garros: Lois Boisson, ranked 361 in the world, put wild into the wild card at the French Open, scripting a daring run into the quarterfinals. The 22-year-old was coming from so far behind she simply couldn’t be spotted until she didn’t just take the centre stage, she owned it. There were a couple of firsts for the French player in this edition of the championship, first time in a Grand Slam main draw, and also her first time on the majestic Court Philppe-Chatrier, where she was up against the World No.3 Jessica Pegula on Monday. All things considered, it was as good as it gets. That was the feeling.
No one told Boisson or the French fans that.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The stadium, only one-third full when the match started, filled to capacity in the decider. The fans lending the lone surviving French player in the singles draws a shoulder, cheering loudly and singing the national anthem. The audacious wildcard responded by reaching for the near impossible. She produced her best tennis to knock out the rock-solid American 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two-hours and 42-minutes to set up a quarterfinal meeting with the 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday.
Boisson, from Dijon, a principal wine-making area, had a stellar season last year. She lifted her maiden WTA 125 title on clay at Saint Malo and climbed to No.152 in the rankings by early May. She caught the attention of the establishment and was given a wildcard in last year’s Roland Garros. Unfortunately for Boisson, less than two weeks before the start of the clay court major, she suffered a left knee injury. She was forced to undergo surgery which put her out of the sport for nine months.
The 22-year-old, who started playing tennis on clay at the age of eight, wasn’t a standout junior, but the red dirt is where she feels at home. “I played a lot on clay,” she said. “The more you play, the more you adapt to the surface. After all, I have a game style that fits the surface very well. When the clay season starts, I feel my best and happiest.”
Boisson’s forehand is heavy, built for the surface she hopes to reign on, it spun viciously through the light afternoon air, finding the lines. She had 18 winners on that flank in the match, running around her backhand and opening up the court, mixing it up with slices and taking the ball away from the American’s comfort zone.
The home player broke on her second opportunity in the ninth game of the second set, and then backed it up by serving out the set at love. The 22-year-old struck decisively in the decider, converting on her fourth chance for a 5-4 lead before warding off four breakpoints and serving out the match. “In the third set Chatrier was full, it was incredible. Roland Garros is a dream and it’s a goal, so being in quarters is a step ahead.”
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