Lois Boisson keeps Paris festivities alive

Alize Cornet knows just how keen tennis players can be to get back into the locker room after a long, gruelling match.

- Shahid Judge

MUMBAI: Which is perhaps why she offered to end the on-court interview she was conducting early. "No, this is perfect!" came the instant reply from Lois Boisson, who had waited long enough to savour this moment.

In her first ever match at the Court Philippe Chatrier, the 22-year-old from Dijon in eastern France pulled off the upset of the tournament on Monday. Ranked 361 in the world, Boisson beat world No.3 Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 40 minutes to make it to the quarter-final of the French Open. And all this in her first appearance at a Grand Slam. Asked if she expected this sort of performance, "not really," came the translated reply.

"Before the match I knew there was a possibility, I knew she was tough. And through the match I gave my all, in the end I won, which is incredible."