Sawt Falasteen - Boisson 'really disappointed' as fairytale French Open run ends

The 361st-ranked Boisson had defied the odds to become the first wildcard in French Open history to reach the semi-finals, but her improbable title bid ended in a 6-1, 6-2 loss to second seed Gauff.

"I'm really disappointed today because I wanted to go further than this semi-final," said Boisson, who captivated the French public on her Grand Slam debut and ignited hopes of a first major champion since Marion Bartoli won Wimbledon in 2013.

"I'm just going to take the time to digest this and then we'll see afterwards. But, no, it will probably not take very long (to get over it)."

Boisson was the lowest ranked player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in the last 40 years. She was also the first wildcard to make this stage in Paris.

Ultimately, the step up in class against Gauff proved too much.

"She played really, really good. She was just too good for me today, and that's it," said Boisson.

"I just feel like I was running everywhere on the court today, so it was really tough. She was really solid, and I couldn't play my game today because she was just too good."

Despite losing heavily to Gauff it was an incredible fortnight for Boisson, who had just one tour-level win to her name before the start of the tournament.

"This week was very positive for me," said Boisson, who beat top-10 players Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

"It's just that today it was quite simply too tough for me. I couldn't manage to get my game going, but apart from today's match... the tournament as a whole was very positive.

"Even today, there are a few positives even if there aren't many."

Boisson was the third player to reach the semi-finals in her Grand Slam main-draw debut since 1980, following Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati who also did it at Roland Garros in 1989 and 1990.

Reaching the semi-finals in Paris will see her take home 690,000 euros (789,536) -- more than quadrupling her career earnings of $148,009.

Boisson will also climb to a career high of 65th after a breakout performance, a year on from a serious knee injury that forced her out of the 2024 French Open and left her doubting her future in the sport.

She missed nine months after rupturing anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, in which time her ranking nosedived from its previous high of 152nd.

"We know that particular injury is very complicated, but at the beginning, yes, I kind of lost faith because I didn't know what was to come next, and I didn't know that things could go so well," reflected Boisson.

"I was really worried at one point, but you know, as the rehabilitation progressed, I realised that things are getting better. In the end, what's happening today is great."

H.Jarrar--SF-PST