In one of the biggest shocks in recent Grand Slam history, 22-year-old French wild card Lois Boisson, ranked 361st in the world, defeated third-seeded Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round of Roland Garros on Monday. It was Boisson’s Grand Slam main-draw debut and only her sixth tour-level match win—yet she played like a seasoned veteran on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Trailing by a set and 4-3, Boisson rallied with fearless shot-making, crafty drop shots, and the roar of a partisan Parisian crowd behind her. Pegula, despite her consistency at the majors and previous dominance over lower-ranked opponents, couldn’t find answers in the final set, converting just 1 of 6 break points and falling short in the clutch moments.
Boisson becomes the lowest-ranked woman to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2017 and now joins elite company on a dream run at her home Slam. Pegula, a Grand Slam quarterfinal regular, exits Roland Garros in stunning fashion, undone by both a fearless underdog and a charged French crowd.
