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London Calling Podcast Yana Bolder
Coco Gauff brought a quick end to surprise French hero Lois Boisson’s improbable run at Roland Garros on Thursday to set up a final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Gauff dominated from the outset on Court Philippe Chatrier and pulled away to a 6-1, 6-2 victory to extinguish the host nation’s hopes of a first French Open winner since Mary Pierce in 2000.
The 21-year-old Gauff is through to her third Grand Slam singles final. She finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros three years ago before beating Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open.
“Obviously there’s still a lot of work to do, but for now I’ll enjoy this one and then prepare for the final tomorrow,” she said.
For Boisson, 22, it marked a disappointing finish to a remarkable first Grand Slam appearance, a year after missing out because of a serious knee injury.
The world number 361 had never played a top-50 opponent before this week.
Boisson dumped out two in the top 10 in third-ranked Jessica Pegula and world number six Mirra Andreeva to set up her last-four clash with Gauff.
But Gauff proved a hurdle too far for a player who only had one WTA tour-level win before the start of the tournament.
Boisson’s entrance on court drew huge roars from a crowd filling back up after watching Sabalenka knock out three-time reigning champion Swiatek in the first semi-final.
Cheers greeted each of Boisson’s returns during the warm-up, but it was Gauff who hit the ground running with a break of serve in the opening game.
The American second seed followed a comfortable hold with another break to dampen home spirits as the rain began to pound heavily on the closed roof.
Boisson passed up three break points in the fourth game before finally getting on the board after Gauff had raced into a 4-0 lead.
Gauff wrapped up the set with little fuss though following another break, subduing a partisan crowd that helped spur Boisson past Andreeva in the quarter-finals.
After an exchange of holds to begin the second set, Boisson couldn’t capitalise on a break point in the third game as she fired a forehand low into the net.
Gauff broke for a 3-1 cushion only to hand the advantage right back the next game.
With Boisson struggling for the consistency of earlier rounds, Gauff soon seized control again with her fifth break of the match for a 4-2 edge.
Boisson could not produce one last act of defying the odds as Gauff pocketed the final two games to seal a comfortable victory.
AFP
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