Lois Boisson, World No. 36, gave an interview to Europe 1 on its program
Studio des Légendes, where she reflected on her massive 2025 season. The French star burst onto the tennis scene after reaching the semifinals of Roland Garros 2025 and securing her first professional title at the Hamburg Open.
The 22-year-old was making her first appearance in the Roland Garros main draw, securing her Grand Slam debut thanks to a wildcard. At the tournament, she became the first woman in 35 years to reach the semifinals in her first major since Jennifer Capriati in 1990, and the first Frenchwoman in the Roland Garros semifinals since Marion Bartoli in 2011.
During the interview, she revealed that she discovered tennis "by pure chance during a vacation camp." Boisson followed her idol Rafael Nadal's campaign at Roland Garros on television, and from then on, her goal was to play at the Paris major one day. "Even then, my dream was to play at Roland-Garros someday. I watched it on television every year with that same dream."
Historic run at Roland Garros
Her historic campaign at the French Open was achieved as World No. 361, marking her first semifinal appearance at a WTA-level event. On the way, she defeated Elise Mertens, Anhelina Kalinina, World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, and No. 6 Mirra Andreeva. She also became the lowest-ranked quarterfinalist and semifinalist in the last 40 years at the tournament. However, her dream run ended in the semifinals against eventual champion Coco Gauff in straight sets.
"Honestly, that's the challenge of this sport," she admitted regarding finishing a good campaign with a painful defeat. "You are alone on the court, you have to find solutions. And I love this sport," confessed the Frenchwoman before admitting that "winning without playing well is something that happens 80% of the time."
Boisson went from being an unknown player to becoming the French No. 1—precisely following the retirement of her compatriot Caroline Garcia, who had been the top French player for the last few years. Despite this, the 22-year-old acknowledged that her life has not changed too much in her daily routine.
"On the court, life is the same... Life itself has not changed. I think there are also many other very good players here," added the World No. 36. "I don't feel any particular pressure. I'm just living it my way. Honestly, that's the challenge of this sport. You are alone on the court, you have to find solutions. And I love this sport. My goal remains to win a Grand Slam. When I win one, to win several."
Title Confirmation: Hamburg Open success
Boisson later requested a wildcard for the Wimbledon main draw but was denied, forcing her to play the qualifying rounds as the first seed, despite already being ranked inside the Top 65. She was defeated in the first round in three sets against Canada's Carson Branstine.
A month later, Boisson showed that her performance at Roland Garros was no accident, securing her first professional title at the Hamburg Open, defeating Dayana Yastremska in the semifinals and Anna Bondar in the final. The victory cemented her definitive entry into the Top 50, and after a few more appearances in the year-end tournaments, she managed to close the season as a Top 40 player.