Lois Boisson

French Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka ends Iga Swiatek’s winning streak, reaches first Roland Garros final | Tennis News

Danijones2 days ago05 mins

Winner Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, right, and Poland’s Iga Swiatek hug after their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: In a remarkable semifinal match at the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, halted Iga Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros with a commanding 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 victory on Thursday.This victory not only prevented Swiatek from achieving a historic fourth consecutive French Open title in the professional era but also positioned Sabalenka for her fourth major championship, potentially her first on clay courts.“It feels incredible, but I also understand that the job is not done yet,” said Sabalenka, the 27-year-old Belarusian who claimed the top WTA ranking from Swiatek last October. “She’s the toughest opponent, especially on the clay, especially at Roland Garros. I’m proud that I was able to get this win. It was a tough match. … but I managed it, somehow.” Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates as she won the quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Sabalenka’s next challenge awaits in Saturday’s final against either No. 2 Coco Gauff or French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson, ranked 361st. She playfully addressed the crowd: “I’m pretty sure you’re going to be cheering for one person like crazy, and I’m not sure if I really want her to win.”The match, played under Court Philippe-Chatrier’s closed roof due to rain, showcased exceptional tennis from both players. However, Sabalenka’s decisive third-set performance, marked by zero unforced errors compared to Swiatek’s twelve, proved decisive.For Swiatek, this defeat extends a challenging period since her last French Open victory 12 months ago. The 24-year-old Polish player, now ranked fifth, has struggled to reach finals, faced an unexpected Olympics semifinal exit, and experienced a one-month ban following a contaminated medicine incident. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates as she won the semifinal match of the French Tennis Open against Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Sabalenka’s dominance in women’s tennis is evident, with her six title match appearances this year setting a benchmark not seen since Serena Williams in 2013. Her powerful game, traditionally suited to faster courts, proved equally effective on clay, as demonstrated by her commanding performance.The match dynamics shifted throughout, with Sabalenka initially leading 4-1 before Swiatek fought back to 5-4 in the first set. After winning the tiebreaker, Swiatek briefly regained momentum in the second set, but Sabalenka ultimately prevailed with an impressive display of power tennis.The atmosphere was notably pro-Swiatek, with the 15,000-strong crowd frequently chanting “I-ga!” Sabalenka responded to this partial support by actively encouraging crowd engagement after her successful points.

Roland Garros: World No. 361 Lois Bosson lost for words as Paris fairytale continues

Danijones3 days ago05 mins

Los Boisson’s name was on the lips of every fan at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday, June 4. The World No. 361 scripted history by becoming the first wildcard in the Open Era to reach the semi-final of Roland Garros, and the first Frenchwoman to do so since 2011. Just days after stunning third seed Jessica Pegula in the Round of 16, the 22-year-old delivered another inspired performance to knock out sixth seed Mirra Andreeva. Unlike Monday’s gruelling three-set battle, Boisson wrapped up her quarter-final in straight sets, sending the Paris crowd into raptures as she sank to the court in tears of joy — the realisation of a dream in front of her home crowd. It was a tough evening for 18-year-old Andreeva, who struggled against the partisan atmosphere. The crowd jeered her mistakes and loudly backed Boisson, who remained composed even as her opponent appeared to lose her cool. Boisson stayed focused and sealed the match 7-6(6), 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes. Remarkably, Boisson had won just one main draw match on the WTA Tour before entering her maiden Grand Slam as a wildcard. But with back-to-back victories over Top 10 opponents, she has turned heads across the tennis world. She is only the third player since 1980 to reach the semi-finals on her Slam main-draw debut, joining legends Monica Seles (1989) and Jennifer Capriati (1990). “It’s incredible. Thank you for supporting me like this. I have no words,” Boisson told the crowd, who responded with thunderous applause. “I ran a bit too much because I was so tense early on,” she said. “But I fought hard in that first set, which was so intense. At the start of the second, I felt a little empty, but I hung in there and finished the job.” Boisson showed exceptional composure after trailing 1-3 and then 3-5 in the opening set. Unfazed, she unleashed her trademark forehand winners to claw back into the match. In the second set, she took full advantage of Andreeva’s lapse in focus to close out a famous win. Destiny had denied her the chance to compete at her home Grand Slam last year. Just before she could make her debut at Roland Garros, she suffered a serious ACL injury. Ranked in the 160s before that setback, Boisson had dropped into the 300s before her remarkable resurgence in Paris. Now assured of a spot inside the world’s top 70, Boisson is set to become the new French No. 1 in women’s singles — a meteoric rise that few could have predicted. She faces a formidable challenge next in second seed Coco Gauff, but given her giant-killing run, the belief in Paris is stronger than ever. When she entered the tournament, few had even heard her name. On Friday, the crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier will be roaring for one of their own — a breakout star who’s captured the heart of French tennis. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jun 5, 2025