\u201cObviously, it\u2019s a dream to begin with. First, to play at Roland Garros. Then, to win it, that\u2019s a goal too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boisson is the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since former top-20 player Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open.<\/p>\n
She is also the first player to make the women\u2019s quarter-finals on their Grand Slam debut since Carla Suarez Navarro at Roland Garros in 2008.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Boisson had been set to make her French Open bow last year, but tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee the week before the tournament.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, could not stop the momentum as Boisson dug deep on her favoured red clay surface, buoyed by the cheering home fans on Court Philippe Chatrier.<\/p>\n Boisson conceded the first set in just over half an hour with four double faults.<\/p>\n But playing her first Grand Slam main draw and only her second tour-level event, the Frenchwoman came back with a vengeance in the second set on a surface she says \u201csuits [her] style of play\u201d.<\/p>\n Discover more<\/p>\n \u201cI feel best and super happy on clay,\u201d she told journalists.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the surface I\u2019ve played most on.\u201d<\/p>\n She began to mix up her game with well-timed drop shots – 34 in total – and lobs – of which she had 32 – firing down winners, with a powerful two-handed backhand breaking Pegula\u2019s serve to lead 5-4.<\/p>\n Boisson converted two of her six break-point chances, cupping her ear to hear the roar of the crowd as she held serve to love to set up a third-set decider.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was incredible when the points were very tight at the end,\u201d she said of the support.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last two games were very tense because there was a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n