French Tennis Stars Jacquemot and Boisson Face Off at Roland-Garros

PARIS, France — Two young French tennis players, Elsa Jacquemot and Loïs Boisson, will duel on Saturday for a spot in the fourth round of Roland-Garros, surprising fans with their early tournament success.

Both 22 years old, Jacquemot and Boisson secured their places in the main draw through wild cards from the French Tennis Federation. They have each reached the third round, creating a buzz about the future of French women’s tennis, which has faced criticism lately.

“I have big ambitions. I’m happy to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in my career. It’s happening in France at Roland, so it’s really exciting for me. The crowd is very supportive, and I love that. But I don’t want to stop here,” Jacquemot said during a press conference on May 29.

Ranking 138th in the world, Jacquemot triumphed over American Alycia Parks in a tense match that featured two set losses before she claimed victory in the final set, aided by the enthusiastic crowd on Court No. 7 (6-2, 6-7, 6-1).

On the other side of the net will be Boisson, ranked 361st but having made a remarkable run to this stage. She has previously defeated 24th-ranked Elise Mertens (6-4, 4-6, 6-3) and Anhelina Kalinina, ranked 113th (6-1, 6-2).

“It’s not easy playing against a fellow French player at Roland, because I know the crowd may be less supportive of me. I hope they will still cheer for me, but it might be a split crowd,” Boisson stated.

Despite training in the same region near Lyon, Jacquemot and Boisson rarely practice together, as their busy schedules keep them often away from home. “We train together very rarely. It’s hard to coordinate because we’re both often traveling,” said Jacquemot.

Boisson expressed confidence after her recent victories, saying, “I know I can compete at the highest level in practice against everyone here. It’s about executing that in matches. I think I did well managing the pressure throughout my match against Kalinina.”

This upcoming match marks a potential turning point for French women’s tennis, especially after the retirement announcement of former world number four Caroline Garcia. Jacquemot noted, “A French player will definitely be in the next round, which is a nice thought. I hope it will be me, but either way, the future looks bright for French women’s tennis.”

Fans are eagerly anticipating the match on Saturday, May 31, which guarantees at least one French player advancing to the next stage of the prestigious tournament.