Djokovic and Sinner Advance to French Open Quarters; Boisson Upsets Pegula
Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner both secured their spots in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Monday, while an unexpected upset saw Lois Boisson defeat Jessica Pegula to become the first Frenchwoman to reach this stage since 2017.
Djokovic, a three-time champion, cruised past Britain’s Cameron Norrie with a dominant 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory, marking his 100th win at Roland Garros. This victory also set a record for the most quarterfinal appearances at a single Grand Slam event, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record of 18 at Wimbledon.
“I feel good. I know I can play better,” Djokovic remarked after the match, emphasizing his focus on achieving a new record of 25 Grand Slam titles. He acknowledged the challenge ahead, as he is set to face world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, who advanced after his opponent, Tallon Griekspoor, retired due to injury.
Zverev, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, expressed his respect for Djokovic but stated, “Carlos is the favorite. Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak.”
Meanwhile, Sinner showcased his formidable form with a commanding 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over 17th seed Andrey Rublev. The Italian, who is aiming for his third consecutive Grand Slam title, will face unseeded Alexander Bublik in the next round. Bublik reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by defeating fifth seed Jack Draper after coming back from a set down.
In a stunning upset, Lois Boisson, ranked 361st, shocked the tennis world by defeating third seed Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The 22-year-old’s victory marks her Grand Slam debut and makes her the lowest-ranked woman to reach a quarterfinal since 2017. “I really don’t know what to say,” Boisson said, reflecting on her remarkable achievement and the support from the home crowd.
Boisson will next face rising star Mirra Andreeva, who advanced with a straight-sets win over Daria Kasatkina. The quarterfinals are shaping up to be an exciting showdown, with top contenders like world No. 2 Coco Gauff, who also progressed after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova, set to clash with reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
