RG.9- French Connection

So, this is what we missed out on last year, huh?

A roar heard all over Paris.

Epic three-set win for French wild card Lois Boisson who stunned Jessica Pegula to reach her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final. pic.twitter.com/KAK67YGr9j

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 2, 2025

In 2024, Lois Boisson was an athletic Pastry looking to take a bite out of the world on the big stage. With multiple challenger titles and a quickly rising ranking (#152 before Roland Garros), she was set to make her slam MD debut in Paris as a wild card before a knee injury a week before the start of play set her career back nine months and delayed her official introduction to the tennis world for a full year.

Well, everyone sees her now.

Had Boisson been able to play at RG last year, she might have come into *this* tournament ranked inside the Top 50 and a known quantity, a player to watch as she looked to follow up on her debut appearance, after an additional year of seasoning, with something even bigger this time around. But it's funny how the Tennis Gods write these scripts, isn't it? After a year of disappointment, the French woman was finally able to show up last week. Today, her run has become one of the stories of the tournament.

Jessica Pegula's clay season came to an end in Paris today. pic.twitter.com/rbGF5IcloY

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 2, 2025

Even while #3 seed Jessie Pegula seemed to be outplaying her in their Round of 16 match-up, Boisson got off to a decent start in the 1st set on Monday. She held an on-serve lead at 3-2, but Pegula reeled things back in down the stretch, winning 15 of the final 18 points en route to a 6-3 win.

Then, lo and behold, Boisson again held a 3-2 edge in the 2nd, but this time the lead didn't feel so tenuous. The Pastry's hard topspin groundstrokes -- especially her favored inside out forehand -- began to help her take advantage of Pegula's (though-improved) still wanting clay court movement. Boisson began to find some traction in the Bannerette's service games and, with Pegula missing on several first serves, broke to take another 3-2 lead, and even though she gave the break back a game it was still the French player who was clearly gathering some momentum.

Boisson put still more pressure on Pegula's long serve in game 7, holding two BP before the U.S. veteran finally held on her third GP to lead 4-3. But Pegula couldn't hold the wild card off two games later, and Boisson got the break that gave her a chance to serve out the set. She did so, at love, winning 6-4.

Come the 3rd set, with the late-arriving Chatrier fans finally in their seats to offer her the sort of support that a French player is expected to receive in Paris, Boisson was starting to believe that today might not just turn out to be an exercise in gaining experience for the future. She broke Pegula to open the set, and held to lead 2-0, running her winning streak to five consecutive games.

Pegula got the set back on serve, but the two were still locked up at 4-4 later in the set. The big tests were about to come, for both women.

In the ninth game, Boisson found an opening on Pegula's serve at 15/30, but the Bannerette would hold three GP for a 5-4 lead before she ever faced a BP. She'd end up seeing Boisson hold four. On the first, the French woman ran around a Pegula serve, stepping back into the doubles alley in order to fire off a forehand. But it went long. Pegula's big shots saved the second, while Boisson missed on a nervous-looking angled lob on the third. But on #4, Pegula netted a forehand that put Boisson up 5-4 with the chance to become the first wild card to reach the RG quarterfinals since Mary Pierce (by then just two years removed from being the women's champ in Paris) in 2002.

Boisson quickly went up 30/love, but two points later DF'd to level the game at 30-all. This time, after playing a bit too tentatively, it'd be Boisson who'd be tasked with saving four BP. She got lucky on the first, with a successful drop shot off a framed mishit, then found her groove with a perfect lob over Pegula on the second. A forehand winner denied the third, then Pegula pushed her reply to a drop shot wide on #4.

With her wildest dream suddenly coming close to being true, Boisson directed a high volley drop shot into the forecourt, and Pegula couldn't scramble and slide across the terre battue well enough to pull off a winner, instead firing her shot into the net to give Boisson a MP. A forehand winner down the line completed the year-long circle for Boisson, as she went from disappointed (and injured) would-be wild card to the most successful French player at this Roland Garros, reaching the QF in her maiden slam MD with a 3-6/6-4/6-4 win over the world #3 on the biggest court at her dream event.

Elation and packing up & going home are just mere meters seperated on a tennis court. pic.twitter.com/bpyg2AUxF7

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 2, 2025

What a moment for French wild card Lois Boisson who beat Pegula and qualified for the quarter-finals, and is today’s Extraordinary Moments with @HaierOfficial#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/LQrggWpPyN

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025

At #361, Boisson in the lowest-ranked woman to reach a major QF since 2017 when Seren-... oops, sorry, force of habit... since a #418 Kaia Kanepi at the U.S. Open.

At a live #120, Boisson has finally (already?) surpassed her ranking before the knee injury. It'll be really interesting to see how high she's ranked come this time in 2026, though.

La vie est belle 🇫🇷✨#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/jK5PstqgBA

— wta (@WTA) June 2, 2025

=DAY 9 NOTES= ...aside from Boisson's stunning slam moment, unlike on Sunday, the other three 4th Rounders of the day didn't go the distance, with each ending in straight sets. A couple had some interesting situations that occurred within the matches, though.

Mirra Andreeva is through to the quarter-final at Roland Garros. pic.twitter.com/FVibIJ7T4v

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 2, 2025

A year after #6 Mirra Andreeva reached her maiden slam SF at Roland Garros at age 17, the Hordette has returned to the QF as an 18-year old, the youngest to do it in back-to-back years since Martina Hingis (at 16-17) in 1997-98. Of course, Hingis also did it at age 18, 19 and 20 (and after what would be just her *first* retirement, five years later at 25), so this could end up being an annual note where Andreeva is concerned.

Andreeva still hasn't lost a set in Paris this year, but familiar practice partner #17 Dasha Kasatkina nearly took one from her today. But, as we've seen, Andreeva handles almost everything quite well, including dropping four consecutive games to the Aussie in the middle of the 2nd set today after having led 3-1. Kasatkina served at 5-3, and held a SP at 5-4 on Andreeva's serve. But Mirra got the hold, broke Kasatkina at love and then served out the 6-3/7-5 win.

Naturally, as great a story as the Pastry's is, Andreeva will still be a big favorite vs. Boisson in the QF to return to the semis. Is she ready for another step beyond that, to her maiden slam final (she could face either Sabalenka or Zheng in a potental SF) or maybe more? Remember, she picked up that "bellwether" Indian Wells title earlier this year, something that proved to be a good luck charm for the likes of Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu, who both won in the desert before claiming their first slam titles later in the same season.

#2 Coco Gauff had the most clean pass through into the QF today, keeping her no-sets-lost run going in Paris. After taking a love 1st set vs. #20 Ekaterina Alexandrova, Gauff was made to squeeze out a 7-5 2nd to move one step closer to adding a '25 RG final to her Madrid-Rome final combination from last month. Only four women have played in all three in a single season: Dinara Safina (2009), Serena Williams (2013), Simona Halep (2017) and Iga Swiatek (2024).

While it gets lost amidst the still active streak of seven straight QF in Paris from Swiatek, Gauff has now done it five straight years. She's 24-5 in her RG career.

Blasting into the quarter-finals 🚀#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/yLQEj9rYqX

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025

Meanwhile, #7 Madison Keys, though her serving was a bit inconsistent, brought the big shots when they were needed most in her 6-3/7-5 win over first-time slam Round of 16er Hailey Baptiste. Baptiste had led 3-1 in the 2nd set, and Keys faced a pair of BP at 6-5 when she was serving for the match and hoping to avoid a TB. Keys reaches her first QF in Paris since 2019, and extends her 2025 slam match winning streak to eleven, with Gauff up next.

Let the good times roll 🎾#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/HeelVXzUwQ

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025

...the junior seeds continue to fall early. Today, #3 Jeline Vandromme (BEL) lost to Austrian Lilli Tagger, while #7 Jana Kovackova (CZE) was taken out by Brazil's Victoria Luiza Barros. With Kovackova's exit, we've already lost both Penickovas and one of the Kovackovas before the Round of 16 field has been completed.

In fact, only two Top 8 seeds (#1 Emerson Jones and #8 Hannah Klugman) are still alive. Also remaining of the Top 10 seeds: #9 Julieta Pareja, who reached a tour-level SF in Bogota in her WTA debut earlier this season, and #10 Alena Kovackova.

Of course, the Bannerette Penickovas and Czech Kovackovas could still face off in the doubles final. The sibling pairs played one another in the AO GD semis in January, and the Penickovas went on to win the title.

...the wheelchair draw is out, and #1 Yui Kamiji could face #3 Diede de Groot, seeking her fifth straight RG title, in the semis. The two have yet to face off in singles since Kamiji defeated de Groot in the Paralympics Gold match last summer, and de Groot ended her season to have hip surgery. The Dutch star returned earlier this spring, and has played one team event and one individual singles tournament, winning both while going 7-0 in singles.

De Groot will open against Li Xiaohui, whom she just beat about ten days ago in a singles final, but who ended her 145-match winning streak in 2024. De Groot's 52-match slam match winning streak is still active.

There are two odd pairings in doubles, as the usual all-Dutch de Groot & Aniek Van Koot team are split, likely because of de Groot not being certain that she'd play in Paris earlier this year. The two are both teaming with roller Pastries, de Groot with Ksenia Chasteau and Van Koot alongside Pauline Deroulede.

*WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
#1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR vs. #8 Zheng Qinwen/CHN
#13 Elina Svitolina/UKR vs. #5 Iga Swiatek/POL
#6 Mirra Andreeva/RUS vs. (WC) Lois Boisson/FRA
#7 Madison Keys/USA vs. #2 Coco Gauff/USA

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES QF=
#1 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) vs. Krunic/Danilina (SRB/KAZ)
(Alt.) Begu/Wickmayer (ROU/BEL) vs. Eikeri/Hozumi (NOR/JPN)
Danilovic/Potapova (SRB/RUS) vs. #4 M.Andreeva/Shnaider (RUS/RUS)
#6 V.Kudermetova/Mertens (RUS/BEL) vs. #2 Errani/Paolini (ITA/ITA)

=MIXED DOUBLES QF=
#1 L.Kichenok/Pavic (UKR/CRO) vs. Krawczyk/Skupski (USA/GBR)
#4 Townsend/King (USA/USA) vs. Siegemund/Roger-Vasselin (GER/FRA)
#3 Errani/Vavassori (ITA/ITA) walkover Nicholls/Patten (GBR/GBR)
#2 Zhang Sh./Arevalo (CHN/ELS) def. Olmos/Glasspool (MEX/GBR)

=GIRLS SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
x vs. x
#9 Julieta Pareja/USA vs. Victoria Luiza Barros/BRA
x vs. x
#12 Julia Stusek/GER vs. Beatrise Zeltina/LAT
x vs. x
(Q) Sarah Melany Fajmanova/CZE vs. Mia Pohankova/SVK
x vs. x
#16 Laima Vladson/LTU vs. Rositsa Dencheva/BUL

...MEANWHILE, HARRIET DART... ON DAY 9:

The Simpsons Homer Simpson GIFfrom The Simpsons GIFs

Cher, in the music video with her co-stars from "Mermaids" (an underrated movie, BTW) -- Winona Ryder (at 18) and Christina Ricci (10, in her movie debut) -- in 1990.

Cher - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) pic.twitter.com/e49hnbDzQd

— JukeBox (@JukeBoxNonStop) June 2, 2025

💙🤍❤️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/wyP41ncM6k

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2025

*REACHED SLAM QF AS WILD CARD - last 30 years*
1995 U.S. Open - Monica Seles (RU)
2002 Roland Garros - Mary Pierce
2006 Australian Open - Martina Hingis
2008 Wimbledon - Zheng Jie (SF)
2009 Australian Open - Jelena Dokic
2009 U.S. Open - Kim Clijsters (W)
2010 Australian Open - Justine Henin (RU)
2011 Wimbledon - Sabine Lisicki (SF)
2023 Wimbledon - Elina Svitolina (SF)
2025 Roland Garros - Lois Boisson

*SLAM QF+ - CHINA*
2006 WI - Li Na (QF)
2008 WI - Zheng Jie (QF)
2009 US- Li Na (QF)
2010 AO - Li Na (SF)
2010 AO - Zheng Jie (SF)
2010 WI - Li Na (QF)
2011 AO - Li Na (RU)
2011 RG - Li Na (W)
2013 AO - Li Na (RU)
2013 WI - Li Na (QF)
2013 US - Li Na (SF)
2014 AO - Li Na (W)
2014 US - Peng Shuai (SF)
2016 AO - Zhang Shuai (QF)
2019 WI - Zhang Shuai (QF)
2019 US - Wang Qiang (QF)
2023 US - Zheng Qinwen (QF)
2024 AO - Zheng Qinwen (RU)
2024 US - Zheng Qinwen (QF)
2025 RG - Zheng Qinwen

*2025 RG FINAL 8*
[by career slam QF]
13 - Elina Svitolina
12 - Aryna Sabalenka
12 - Madison Keys
11 - Iga Swiatek
9 - Coco Gauff
4 - Zheng Qinwen
2 - Mirra Andreeva
1 - Lois Boisson

[by career RG QF]
6 - Swiatek
5 - Gauff
5 - Svitolina
3 - Keys
3 - Sabalenka
2 - M.Andreeva
1 - Boisson
1 - Zheng

[w/ consecutive slam QF]
3 - Sabalenka (last 10 played; DNP 24 WI)
3 - Swiatek
2 - Gauff
2 - Keys
2 - Svitolina

[w/ consecutive RG QF]
6 - Swiatek
5 - Gauff
3 - Sabalenka
2 - M.Andreeva

[2025 slam QF - unseeded]
AO - none
RG - Boisson (WC)

[2025 1st-time GS QF]
AO - none (14th MD)
RG - Boisson (1st MD)

[2025 multiple slam QF]
2 - Gauff (AO/RG)
2 - Keys (AO/RG)
2 - Sabalenka (AO/RG)
2 - Svitolina (AO/RG)
2 - Swiatek (AO/RG)

[2025 slam QF - by nation]
5...USA (3/2/-/-) - Gauff,Keys
2...BLR (1/1/-/-) - Sabalenka
2...POL (1/1/-/-) - Swiatek
2...RUS (1/1/-/-) - M.Andreeva
2...UKR (1/1/-/-) - Svitolina
1...CHN (0/1/-/-) - Zheng
1...ESP (1/0/-/-)
1...FRA (0/1/-/-) - Boisson

[WTA career slam QF - active]
39...Venus Williams, USA
18...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
13...Petra Kvitova, CZE
13...Elina Svitolina, UKR
12...Madison Keys, USA
12...Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
11...Karolina Pliskova, CZE
11...Iga Swiatek, POL
10...Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
9...Coco Gauff, USA
9...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS

[WTA slam QF & W/L in 2020s - 21 events]
12 - Sabalenka (10-1)*
11 - Swiatek (7-3)*
9 - Gauff (4-4)*
7 - Jabeur (3-4)
7 - Pegula (1-6)
7 - Svitolina (1-5)*
6 - Rybakina (3-3)
5 - Muchova (4-1)
5 - Keys (3-1)*
5 - Krejcikova (2-3)
4 - Barty (3-1)
4 - Pavlyuchenkova (1-3)
4 - Ka.Pliskova (1-3)
4 - Zheng Q. (1-2)*
3 - Halep (2-1)
3 - Vondrousova (1-2)
3 - Badosa (1-2)
3 - Navarro (1-2)
3 - Ostapenko (0-3)
3 - Tomljanovic (0-3)
2 - Azarenka (2-0)
2 - M.Andreeva (0-1)*
2 - Brady (2-0)
2 - Collins (1-1)
2 - Fernandez (1-1)
2 - Haddad Maia (1-1)
2 - Kenin (2-0)
2 - Kvitova (1-1)
2 - Osaka (2-0)
2 - Paolini (2-0)
2 - Sakkari (2-0)
2 - Trevisan (1-1)
2 - Vekic (1-1)
2 - S.Williams (2-0)
1 - Anisimova (0-1)
1 - Bencic (0-1)
1 - Boisson (0-0)*
1 - Bouzkova (0-1)
1 - Cirstea (0-1)
1 - Cornet (0-1)
1 - Garcia (1-0)
1 - Golubic (0-1)
1 - Hsieh (0-1)
1 - Kalinskaya (0-1)
1 - Kanepi (0-1)
1 - Kasatkina (1-0)
1 - Kerber (1-0)
1 - Kontaveit (0-1)
1 - Kostyuk (0-1)
1 - V.Kudermetova (0-1)
1 - Linette (1-0)
1 - Maria (1-0)
1 - Mertens (0-1)
1 - Muguruza (1-0)
1 - Niemeier (0-1)
1 - Noskova (0-1)
1 - Pironkova (0-1)
1 - Podoroska (1-0)
1 - Putintseva (0-1)
1 - Raducanu (1-0)
1 - Rogers (0-1)
1 - Siegemund (0-1)
1 - Stephens (0-1)
1 - Sun (0-1)
1 - Yastremska (1-0)
1 - Zidansek (1-0)

[WTA slam QF by nation in 2020s - 21 slams/168]
35 - USA (2)
21 - CZE
14 - BLR (1)
12 - POL (1)
9 - RUS (1)
9 - UKR (1)
7 - AUS
7 - KAZ
7 - TUN
4 - CHN (1)
4 - ESP
4 - GER
4 - ITA
4 - ROU
3 - FRA (1)
3 - LAT
2 - BRA
2 - CAN
2 - CRO
2 - EST
2 - GRE
2 - JPN
2 - SUI
1 - ARG,BEL,BUL,GBR,NZL,SLO,TPE

[WTA slam QF W/L by nation in 2020s]
35 - USA (16-17) **
21 - CZE (9-12)
14 - BLR (12-1) *
12 - POL (8-3) *
9 - RUS (3-5) *
9 - UKR (2-6) *
7 - AUS (3-4)
7 - KAZ (3-4)
7 - TUN (3-4)
4 - CHN (1-2) *
4 - ESP (2-2)
4 - GER (2-2)
4 - ITA (3-1)
4 - ROU (2-2)
3 - FRA (1-1) *
3 - LAT (0-3)
2 - BRA (1-1)
2 - CAN (1-1)
2 - CRO (1-1)
2 - EST (0-2)
2 - GRE (2-0)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - SUI (0-2)
1 - ARG (1-0)
1 - BEL (0-1)
1 - BUL (0-1)
1 - GBR (1-0)
1 - NZL (0-1)
1 - SLO (1-0)
1 - TPE (0-1)

Attack: 100% Damage: 0% #Caturday

[image or embed]

— Soxic (@soxic.bsky.social) June 1, 2025 at 12:36 AM

TOP QUALIFIER: Nao Hibino/JPN
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (5 games lost 1r/2r)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - Nao Nibino/JPN def. #17 Bianca Andreescu/CAN 2-6/7-6(5)/6-4 - Andreescu led 6-2/5-3, holding a MP in game #8 of the 2nd and then serving for the win a game later, and led 5-2 in the 2nd set TB; Hibino also saved 2 MP vs. Ella Seidel/GER in Q3
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - #10 Paula Badosa/ESP def. Naomi Osaka/JPN 6-7(1)/6-1/6-4 - Badosa SP in 1st, up break at 4-3 3rd and saved BP; Osaka out 1r year after had MP vs. Swiatek 2r and won first pro title on clay in '25)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #13 Elina Svitolina/UKR (def. Sonmez/TUR)
FIRST SEED OUT: #28 Peyton Stearns/USA (1r: Lys/GER)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Emiliana Arango/COL, Sara Bejlek/CZE, Lois Boisson/FRA, Joanna Garland/TPE, Victoria Mboko/CAN, Leyre Romero Gormaz/ESP, Tereza Valentova/CZE
UPSET QUEENS: Czech Republic
REVELATION LADIES: United States
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Australia (2-5 1st Rd.; only wins AUS/AUS 1r and new-AUS Kasatkina)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Victoria Mboko/CAN (3rd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER WINS: Yuliia Starodubtseva/UKR (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Lois Boisson/FRA (in QF)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: none
LAST PASTRY STANDING: Lois Boisson/FRA (in QF)
Ms./Mademoiselle OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Boisson, (WC), (WD/MX)
IT "TBD": Nominees: Mirra, Zheng, Boisson
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominees: Gauff's missing rackets (1r, Day 3), Swiatek
CRASH & BURN: #9 Emma Navarro/USA (1r- wins 1 game vs. Bouzas Maneiro)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: #7 Madison Keys/USA (saved MP in second straight major: AO SF vs. Swiatek, RG 3r down 3-0 in 3rd vs. Kenin, saved 3 MP at 5-4)
DOUBLES STAR: x
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Elina Svitolina/UKR
Mademoiselle/Madame OF THE EVENING: -
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
Légion de Lenglen: 100th anniversary of Suzanne Lenglen's first grand slam French Championship titles (WS/WD/MX sweep) in 1925 (first time event open to non-FRA competitors)
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: On Henin's birthday (June 1), Iga Swiatek passes Henin on all-time RG win streak list w/ #25, def. Rybakina from 6-1 and early 2nd set break, and Rybakina had 3 BP for 4-2 lead in 3rd

All for Day 9. More tomorrow.