Jessica Pegula has suffered a shock exit at the French Open, losing in the fourth round to Lois Boisson.
Tim Henman labelled Boisson’s win over Pegula ‘special’, with the WTA number 361 beating the third seed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Mats Wilander thinks Boisson has the ‘perfect’ clay court game at this moment in time, with Mirra Andreeva her next opponent in the quarter-finals.
The French player pulled off the major upset over Pegula after two hours and 40 minutes, sending the French Open fans into a frenzy.
The supporters at Court Philippe Chatrier were overjoyed for the ecstatic home player, who is contesting her first Grand Slam main draw.
Jessica Pegula shares French Open crowd verdict after Lois Boisson defeat
Pegula has now shared her verdict on those fans, with the American saying in her post-match press conference: “It was a really good atmosphere.
“I felt like the crowd was really good. They were being supportive but I felt respectful at the same time so it was a really nice atmosphere.
“I think it definitely helped her pull through at certain points which were really tough there. I guess I am disappointed with the result but it is what it is.”
And when asked what her first match against a French player at the French Open was like, the American said: “I think once the match got going, at the beginning it wasn’t that much, but the end of the second and the third it was full stands and for her. It was a great atmosphere.
“Then like I said I did not feel they were being disrespectful at all. I felt like it was a really fun and good atmosphere. Obviously for her but at the same time it was great, I thought it was really nice.”
Jessica Pegula analyses shock French Open loss to Lois Boisson
Boisson is remarkably taking on just her second tour-level event, with the 22-year-old competing at this year’s French Open as a wildcard.
She was projected to receive a wildcard last time out after triumphing at the WTA 125 in Saint-Malo, only to suffer an ACL injury.
The devastating setback kept her off the WTA Tour for nine months, but she has now found her feet at the perfect time.
She now boasts a 1-0 record against top 20 players, with world number six Andreeva up next after her win over world number three Pegula.
The American meanwhile also took time to analyse the upset, saying of the third set and her failure to get back into it: “It was tough. It was windy. She was hitting a lot of really high balls, low slices and you have to commit to your shots.
“If you don’t commit then you miss them or maybe she gets a chance to be offensive and it was just like I was kind of walking that line the entire match.
“Specifically even more at the end of the second and third, I mean I guess I could have been more aggressive but at the same time you know when you are trying to make her play and stuff like that so it’s a back-and-forth battle going on in your head.”
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