The Athletic has live coverage from the 2025 French Open.
Welcome to the French Open briefing, where The Athletic shares insights behind each day’s events in the tournament.
Lois Boisson’s Journey from Adversity to Triumph
Prior to this week, many casual fans only recognized French tennis player Lois Boisson for a controversial moment involving Harriet Dart. During their match at the Rouen Open in April, Dart asked the umpire to address Boisson’s alleged body odor amidst her defeat.
Since then, Dart has struggled, not winning any WTA matches, whereas Boisson has advanced to the second week of her home Grand Slam for the first time. After winning a tense third-round match against fellow French player Elsa Jacquemot, Boisson downplayed the Dart incident, stating, “It was fine. It meant nothing to me.”
Boisson, ranked No. 361 at the tournament’s start, will likely break into the top 200 after her impressive performance. She is set to face American world No. 3 Jessica Pegula for a spot in the quarterfinals.
João Fonseca’s Lessons from a Tough Match
João Fonseca experienced a challenging match against Jack Draper, losing 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Despite this setback, reaching the Grand Slam third round at 18 is commendable for the young player. However, this match highlighted areas needing improvement in maintaining consistency against top-level opponents.
In his post-match press conference, Draper emphasized the challenge of matching Fonseca’s powerful style, particularly with his left-handed play. This match showcased the importance of strategic variety, which Draper utilized effectively, turning defensive plays into offensive opportunities.
Criticism of Night Session Policies at the French Open
Jessica Pegula voiced concerns regarding the tournament’s practice of scheduling only men’s matches for primetime slots on Court Philippe-Chatrier, following similar sentiments from world No. 2 Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek. Pegula, part of the WTA Players’ Council, criticized the lack of equitable treatment for women’s matches.
Despite tournament director Amelie Mauresmo’s defenses, claiming scheduling is based on the length of men’s matches, Pegula reiterated the need for equal opportunities for women during nightly sessions. Madison Keys echoed her sentiments, advocating for more women’s matches to receive nighttime slots during the event.
Keys’ Growth Under Pressure
This season, Madison Keys has shown considerable improvement in handling crucial moments during matches. Recently, she saved three match points against Sofia Kenin to secure a place in the next round of the French Open, displaying her newfound composure under pressure.
Now set to face Hailey Baptiste, Keys is determined to change the narrative from her past encounters. She emphasizes the importance of converting match points successfully this time around.
Matt Futterman
