Gauff guts the French fantasy of Boisson

Coco Gauff brought French qualifier Lois Boisson back to earth with a third on Thursday, crushing the local wild card 6-1, 6-2 to reach a second final at Roland Garros in 69 minutes.

The American will face off on Saturday for the title against Aryna Sabalenka, who came alive in a runaway third set as she got past four-time Paris champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0.

Gauff lost the 2022 final here to Swiatek and will be hoping to add the European major to her US open trophy from 2023.

The American never let the No. 361 into the semi, with Gauff only tested in the first set when she saved three break points.

The second set featured three straight breaks, with the seed landing with a 4-2 lead. Two games later, a final break of Boisson sealed victory for Gauff.

The winner said she knew going in that she would be playing against the Paris crowd.

“When you were shouting her name, I was saying min just to psych myself out.

“”The crowd wanted her to win, but I wanted to win as well. Today just happened to be my day,’ the winner said.

“I was mentally prepared that the fans would be 99 per cent for her. I just tried to block that out.”

Gauff and Sabalenka stand level five apiece in their career series, with the American losing the Madrid final to her rival in straight sets.

“This is my second Roland Garros final,” Gauff said. “I was super nervous in my first one. But I think the previous experience will help me.”

Swiatek said will not mourn the end of her 26-match French Open win streak, cooly analysing her loss to Sabalenka.

” I remember missing, like, two backhands when she broke me the firsttime. She still served really well. I feel like I served the same, and she read my serve much better. 

“I probably won less points on the return. I think I lost my intensity a bit, and she just played pretty strong as in the first set.

“But I didn’t react to that well and just couldn’t push back.”

Sabalenka said facing Swiatek in the semis instead “felt like a final.

“But I know the job is not done yet, and I have to go out there on Saturday, and I have to fight and I have to bring my best tennis.

“I have to work for that title, especially against Coco. I’m ready to go out, and I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to do everything it’s going to take to get the win.”

Main photo:- Coco Gauff overpowers Lois Boisson to make final of Roland Garros 2025 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd