French Open 2025: ‘Incredible’ Lois Boisson leaves experts purring with stunning upset win over Mirra Andreeva to reach semi-finals at Roland-Garros

TNT Sports experts Mats Wilander and Tim Henman were left as stunned as Mirra Andreeva was by Lois Boisson's sensational run to the French Open semi-finals. The unseeded Frenchwoman, the world No. 381, beat sixth seed Andreeva in straight sets to reach the last four in her first-ever Roland-Garros appearance, and she earns a meeting with second seed Coco Gauff, who defeated Madison Keys earlier.

'Incredible' Boisson should be a 'top 20' player after reaching semi-finals

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TNT Sports experts Mats Wilander and Tim Henman could hardly believe that Lois Boisson’s French Open fairytale continued as she shocked Mirra Andreeva to reach the semi-finals.

The Frenchwoman, the world No. 381, is making her debut at her home Grand Slam, and has reached the last four at the first time of asking, with two top-ten scalps along the way.

Her first was against the world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who she ousted with a three-set victory 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the last 16, before she defeated sixth seed Andreeva in straight sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday.

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Boisson, who beat 24th seed Elise Mertens in her opening round, will face world No. 2 Coco Gauff in the last four after the American defeated Australian Open champion Madison Keys in three sets earlier in the day.

Boisson’s sensational victory had Henman hailing her miraculous run to the semi-finals, and she could face either Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s showpiece final should she produce another upset against Gauff on Thursday.

Highlights: Boisson brings joy to France as shock run extends to semi-finals

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"It’s been an incredible story this fortnight," Henman said.

"ACL injury last year, out of the equation and the game for nine months. The way she’s come through and backed up the Pegula victory. I thought emotionally and technically she wasn’t going to get close to winning this match, but she was just incredible."

Fellow TNT Sports pundit Wilander lauded the complete nature of Boisson’s game, and said that on her day, she had the talent of a top-20 player.

"She was absolutely brilliant," Wilander added.

"Technically, she’s actually really good. Her forehand is incredibly good. She spins her forehand more than the average man does in the top 50, which you need some serious strength [to do]. She runs and moves unbelievably well. She has a beautiful sliced backhand and can hit aces.

"She has the whole game, so you wonder whether it’s just injury that’s kept her out of it or if it’s a mental thing. For me, she’s a top-20 player on any surface with that kind of game."

Henman, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open himself back in 2004, praised Boisson’s mentality for dealing with the pressures of being the home favourite, with the expectation of the partisan French crowd getting too much for 18-year-old Andreeva.

Watch as Andreeva blasts ball into raucous crowd and gets warning from umpire

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"That’s why I reflect on the Pegula win, against the world No. 3," Henman continued.

"To come through in those circumstances, on Chatrier, such a tight end to the match. You felt like she was in shock at the end of the match. Having seen players have these big upsets, you know that the next round is very difficult.

"To come against Andreeva in that environment, I thought it was going to be difficult, but the way that she competed, three sets, over two hours. It was a phenomenal effort, mentally, technically, and physically."

Both Henman and Wilander questioned the maturity of Andreeva, with the Russian at one point letting her anger get the better of her, smashing a ball away in frustration as the Chatrier crowd jeered her every error.

Boos and jeers as fans delay crucial French Open quarter-final finding seats

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"It looked very difficult," Wilander said of Andreeva's situation.

"Do you let the crowd get to you? I think she did, which was an immature situation. She was missing, double faulting, and missing easy forehands. The French crowd loves it when their opponent [shows their frustration]."

"I’m a massive Andreeva fan," added Henman.

"She’s 18 and absolutely brilliant. It was a very tough and difficult experience for her. She had opportunities and wasn’t able to capitalise. Knowing how competitive [she is] and what a great team she’s got around her, she will learn a lot from this loss."

'DREAM STORY' - 'GROWN-UP' BOISSON IMPRESSES MCENROE

TNT Sports expert John McEnroe may not have known who Boisson was before this year's French Open, but he sure does now.

McEnroe, a one-time finalist at Roland-Garros himself, noted Boisson's physique as a key reason for her beating Andreeva, as well being the "grown-up" of the two in a rollercoaster affair on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Boisson journey to Roland-Garros semi-final a 'dream story' for home favourite

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"I’m very impressed. I’d never heard of her until this tournament," McEnroe said.

"I’ve only seen her play in the last couple of rounds. I heard about the injury and missing a lot of time. She looks like she spent a lot of time in the gym when she was hurt, because she looks strong and physically fit. That was the difference against the teenager Andreeva.

"She looked like the grown-up and that paid off. It was a rollercoaster of a match, and could have gone either way. This is like a dream story. This is crazy. I don’t know how well she’s known in France."

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