Unseeded Frenchwoman Lois Boisson claimed a second scalp from the top 10 on Wednesday afternoon following a straight sets victory over Mirra Andreeva to advance to the semi-final of the French Open.
Two days after seeing off the world number three Jessica Pegula in three sets, Boisson dispatched the planet's sixth best player in straight sets in front of 15,000 frenzied spectators on centre court.
The quarter-final finished 7-6, 6-3 after two hours and eight minutes to propel Boisson into the last four in her debut appearance at one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
"It was incredible," Boisson told the on-court interviewer Lucas Pouille after the match.
'Intense first set'
"The first set was a bit intense and I was nervous," the 22-year-old added. "I ran around to use my forehand and I think I ran too much."
But the scurrying against last-year's semi-finalist paid dividends.
Serving to stay in the first set at 3-5 down, Boisson fought off a set point with her first backhand winner of the encounter.
Her third ace took her to game point and a powerful serve into the corner followed by a stylish drive volley winner into the open court gave her the game and forced Andreeva to serve for the opener.
The 18-year-old Russian squandered the chance but she showed steeliness when serving to level at 6-6.
During a 12-minute game, Andreeva saved three separate set points before holding.
Centre court support
Andreeva notched up another set point at 6-5 during the tiebreak but prodded a forehand wide to bring Boisson back to six points apiece.
The local heroine took the next two points to win the shoot-out 8-6 and electrify the partisans.
They were soon muted as Andreeva ripped through the first three games of the second set to suggest a fightback.
But Boisson dug in. She got on the board and then clawed her way back to 3-3 roared on by a crowd sensing blood.
It duly flowed. Andreeva was given a code violation for hitting a ball into the stands as she lost a fourth game in a row. Another two went by her in quick succession to the thunderous applause and chanting.
"I was tired at the end of the first set," Boisson added. "But I recovered and I finished the way I did with a bit more energy,"
When she steps on court on Thursday to take on second seed Coco Gauff, Boisson, who missed last year's French Open with a knee injury, will be the first Frenchwoman to play in a semi-final since Marion Bartoli vied with Francesca Schiavone for a place in the 2011 women's singles final.
Gauff advanced to her third semi-final following an error-strewn three-set victory over her fellow American Madison Keys. It finished 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.
"I had chances in the tiebreaker," said Gauff. "I don't like the way I played that tiebreaker.
"Although it was close, I think I played too passive. Usually if you're playing too passive, in the end the more aggressive player is going to win.
"I knew in the second and the third that I had to try my best but to be aggressive against Madison is tough."
