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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Sport
Paul Myers

French Open star Boisson loses in first round of qualifying event for Wimbledon

Lois Boisson reached the semi-finals on the clay courts at the French Open in Paris in June. In her first competitive match on grass, she lost in the first round of the qualifying event for Wimbledon which starts on 30 June. REUTERS - Gonzalo Fuentes

France's top female tennis player Lois Boisson lost on Tuesday in the first round of the qualifying tournament to play at Wimbledon.

Carson Branstine beat her 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 to advance to the second round where she will face her fellow Canadian Bianca Andreescu.

Boisson was placed in the 128-player draw as the top seed on the back of her exploits on the clay courts at the French Open where she beat two top 10 players to reach the semi-final and climb nearly 300 rungs in the WTA ladder to world number 65.

But the 22-year-old, playing competitively for the first time on grass, was outfoxed in the key moments.

Serving to stay in the match, a cautious forehand drive landed mid court and Branstine advanced to slap away a cross court forehand winner to set up a match point.

In the next exchange, the 24-year-old chased down Boisson's poorly disguised drop shot and engineered a stroke that forced Boisson into making a defensive lob.

The world 197 coolly terminated Boisson's interest in the tournament with an overhead smash to conclude affairs on the main court at the Community Sports Centre in Roehampton, south-west London.

"She's an incredible player," said Branstine after her battle which lasted one hour and 53 minutes. "She fights for every point. Her result at the French Open speaks for itself. I'm proud of myself."

Elsewhere in the ladies' qualifying tournament, there were mixed fortunes for French players.

Diane Parry eliminated the Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykov in three sets but Tessah Andrianjafitrimo lost to Solana Sierra from Argentina.

The 10th seed won 6-1, 6-3 in 72 minutes to progress to the second round.

Sixteen players from the qualifying tournament win a place in the main draw of the singles event at Wimbledon which takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club between 30 June and 12 July.

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