French Open 2025 Women’s Day 11

Local outsider Lois Boisson returned a French woman to the Roland Garros semi-finals for the first time since Marion Bartoli in 2011 as she stunned sixth seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3 on Wednesday.

The  No. 361 rode an emotional and physical roller-coaster to complete her upset of the teenaged Andreeva after more than two hours in their quarter-final.

Boisson will face a huge challenge when she plays former finalist Coco Gauff, who defeated American compatriot Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1.    

A year ago, Boisson was recovering from knee surgery, her career a question mark. But she completed the turnaround with the knockout of Andreeva, winner of back-to-back Masters titles this season.

“It’s incredible, beyond description,” the winner said. “To pass from last year to now, it’s unbelievable.

“My team has helped me so much to earn this win. I will keep my preparation the same; I won’t change a thing, I want to recover to the max.”

The pair fought through a first set lasting 80 minutes, with frequent momentum shifts which included a 12th ame in which Boisson saved three set points over the course of nine deuces and more than 10 minutes.

The unheralded Frenchwoman claimed the tiebreaker and  levelled in the second set after going down an early break.

Andreeva’s frustration led to a warning for ball abuse while Boisson stayed calm enough to break again for 4-3 before closing out victory as her opponent netted a forehand.

Gauff and Keys combined for more than 100 unforced errors in a sloppy showing which lasted for nearly two and a quarter hours.

The American pair of Grand Slam winners also broke serve an aggregate 14 times.

The first set was riddled with six service breaks, with Gauff annulling a 4-1 lead, saving a set point in the 10th game but losing in a tiebreaker.

The second seed said she changed racquet tension in a match played under the closed Chatrier showcourt roof on a wet day, with the results not apparent until the second set.

Gauff profitted from a 4-1 lead to win the second set and dominated in the third as she broke in the first and last games to advance into the semis for the third time in her career.

“Maddie hit so fast and low, she has one of the best forehands on the Tour,” Gauff said. “I had to fight for every point.

“I knew I would have to run today and try to punish her on every short ball.

“My philosophy is if I can just leave it all out there, then the loss will hurt a lot less than regrets of maybe not giving it your all.

“It means a lot getting to the semis again after winning this tough match.I’m excited to be back and I’ll be ready for tomorrow’s match.”