Mirra Andreeva’s French Open campaign came to an end in front of a hostile crowd.
The Russian advanced to the last eight in Paris for the second successive year and she was competing for the chance to face Coco Gauff in the semi-finals.
But the teenager faced the tough task of defeating the surprise player of the tournament, the home favourite Lois Boisson.
The 22-year-old is playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time, and she has reached the semi-finals after taking out Mirra Andreeva in straight sets.
The crowd inside court Philippe Chatrier erupted when she claimed victory, but they have come under scrutiny for the role they played in the match.
Tennis fans criticise French Open crowd in Mirra Andreeva’s French Open quarter-final
Andreeva is already a top 10 player and contender for Grand Slam titles at just 18 years of age.
She proved her ability to win big titles after claiming the Indian Wells and Dubai WTA 1000 championships back-to-back.
But her wait for a first Grand Slam title continued following a 6-7(6), 3-6 defeat to Boisson at the French Open, and tennis fans watching online felt the crowd’s fervent support for their compatriot played a factor in the outcome.
Fans took to social media X to criticise the crowd, who booed Andreeva at times during the second set. “I know you want your home player Boisson to win but the French crowd doing this to an 18-year-old Andreeva is not nice at all,” she wrote.
“The French crowd was being relentless towards Mirra Andreeva… as expected with all the Boisson hype. Mirra is feeling it clearly,” another fan posted.
This viewer fumed: “They need to start turfing people out at Roland Garros. Constantly shouting out as Andreeva is about to serve to put her off.”
“The crowd is on Andreeva’s head. LEAVE HER ALONE,” another fan said, while this viewer added: “Mirra’s only 18, what she ever did to them got them booed her all match long. She didn’t deserve it.”
Lois Boisson makes history by reaching the French Open semi-finals
Lois Boisson was ranked number 331 when she entered the French Open.
This is just her third tournament of the year, the first in the main draw of a Grand Slam and she has produced a remarkable run to the semi-finals.
She is now just the third player to reach this stage of a Grand Slam in the first appearance at a major since Monica Seles in 1989 and Jennifer Capriati in 1990.
Boisson has also become the first Frenchwoman to reach the last four at the French Open since Marion Bartoli in 2011.
Standing in between the wildcard and a maiden Grand Slam final is Gauff, who is searching for her first title in Paris and second major overall.
