Boisson v Gauff live: French Open semi-final score and updates – UK Times

A chance for Lois Boisson. A double fault from Coco Gauff gifts the Frenchwoman two break points and brings the crowd to life, little so far for the Parisiens to rise for and thus the opportunity greeted with a mighty roar.

Wasteful! A ill-conceived drop shot falls some way shy of its intended target to squander the second of the two chances.

Biff! A belting backhand ends an elongated rally as Boisson shows off her strength on what is regarded as perhaps her weaker wing. But again the opportunity passes her by, a lob delivered with too much mustard by a woman of Dijon. Onwards.

A stroke of luck as Boisson’s slice forehand topples over the net cord. But a backhand is pushed wide and Gauff battles to a gutsy hold.

Come on, then, Lois, time to get going. A neat putaway above her head on the forehand side earns her a point in her second service game but Gauff has begun so, so well, dealing with the depth her opponent generates with aplomb. A block backhand is guided beautifully to the corner to help generate two more break points and the first is hers after yet more magnificent manipulation of the angles. The American is out of the blocks like a champion sprinter.

The French crowd are on their feet as Boisson darts from one corner to another, painting the lines with some crisp groundstrokes.

But Gauff is equal to it, blasting a backhand winner past the 22-year-old.

She volleys in a deft shot, and holds to 15 as Boisson sends the ball sailing wide. A composed start by the American.

The chance goes begging as Gauff fires narrowly long for deuce.

Some entertaining rallies so far. Boisson nets, and Gauff secures the early break, forcing another error from the young Frenchwoman as she can’t get her slice to dip over the net.

An assured fist pump from Gauff.

A fabulous point to begin, both players charging across the court, before Gauff lobs a delightful ball over Boisson’s head.

Gauff gets plenty of power onto a wide serve, but her return is narrowly wide of the sideline. The umpire hops down for a quick check.

Both players have incredible reserves of power and are phenomenal athletes, so we should be in for a treat.

The 21-year-old does brilliantly to latch onto another wide serve, but Boisson executes a perfectly weighted, backspin-heavy drop shot that has her beaten.

But Gauff has an early break point chance as Boisson can’t quite get the angle on a lob.

The warm up is complete, Gauff looking relaxed, Boisson impassive.

The Frenchwoman to serve first.

No rest for the wicked out on Philippe-Chatrier, as we’re going straight into the second semi-final.

World No. 361 and wildcard Lois Boisson is up against world No. 2 and second seed Coco Gauff, a US Open champion and former finalist here.

Boisson has had a fairytale run at her home slam, a year on from an ACL injury which wrecked her chances of competing as a wildcard here.

But she’s up against a tough and experienced competitor here – although having beaten two top-10 opponents in a row, the home crowd will be backing her to cause another upset.

Lois Boisson says she is dreaming of winning the French Open title and is not satisfied with reaching the semi-finals after the wildcard continued her breakthrough Roland Garros run.

The 22-year-old, who is making her grand slam debut a year on from rupturing her ACL, stunned sixth seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 to set up a semi-final clash with Coco Gauff in Paris.

Boisson came into the tournament ranked 361st in the world but is now the first player to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros as a wildcard in the Open era.

“I think every kid who plays tennis has the dream to win a grand slam,” Boisson said. “More for French players to win Roland Garros, for sure. It’s a dream. For sure I will go for the dream, because my dream is to win it, not to be in the semi-final. So I will try to do my best.”

Coco Gauff is prepared to face the hostile French Open fans as she takes on wildcard Lois Boisson in the semi-finals and says she has overcome difficult crowds in the past.

“I think there are two ways I have done it,” the 21-year-old said. “Either, A, just pretend they’re cheering for you, and B, just using it and not letting that get to you. I have been in crowds where they are 99% for me, so I don’t have an issue with it.

“I hope everyone will be respectful and things. If not, it’s cool. I think, you know, it makes sports exciting, and I can’t get irritated at the fact that someone is rooting for their hometown hero, because I would do the same.

“I think it’s just something that I will mentally prepare for if it were to happen and expect and be ready for.”