Images from the Women's semifinal matches of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Thursday.
Coco Gauff ended local heroine Lois Boisson's dream run at the French Open with a ruthless 6-1, 6-2 victory on Thursday to set up a final clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Laser-focused, the World No. 2 from the US subdued the French wild card and the home crowd to speed through the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier and reach the Roland Garros final for the second time after she lost to Iga Swiatek in 2022.
Ranked 361st in the world, Boisson had downed world number three Jessica Pegula and Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the previous rounds, but she looked deflated against Gauff.
The 22-year-old will, however, pocket a career-changing 690,000 euros ($789,567) in prize money, while Gauff will have the chance to secure her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open.
Playing a local favourite at Roland Garros in front of a notoriously fierce crowd can be a challenge even for the most seasoned players, but Gauff came prepared.
"This is my first time playing a French player here. I was mentally prepared that it was to be 99 percent for her so I was trying to block it out," said Gauff.
Addressing the crowd, she added: "When you were saying her name, I was saying my name to myself just to psyche myself."
Gauff, who can become the first American since Serena Williams in 2015 to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, clearly shifted up a gear after beating compatriot Madison Keys in an error-strewn quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Her forehand was solid again, her backhand mesmerizing at times and she served consistently throughout.
Boisson, on the other hand, made an unusual number of unforced errors as her opponent repeatedly forced her to go for the extra shot.
Gauff raced to a 4-0 lead under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof and never looked back, breaking to love at 3-2 in the second set right after Boisson broke her serve for the first time.
The American was on an eight-point winning streak and at the change of ends at 5-2, Boisson placed her towel over her head and hit herself in frustration.
"It's always the plan to start strong," said Gauff. "I knew it was important today. She's an incredible player, she proved to be one of the best players in the world, especially on clay. I'm sure we'll have more battles in the future."
The first Frenchwoman to reach the last four at Roland Garros since Marion Bartoli in 2011, Boisson bowed out when she sent yet another forehand long.
Earlier in the first semifinal, World No. 1 Sabalenka dethroned four-times champion Iga Swiatek 6-7(1), 6-4, 0-6 and ended the latter's 26-game winning streak in the tournament.
Sabalenka's power was too much for the defending champion, who was looking to become the first female player in the Open era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris.
"Honestly, it feels incredible but I understand the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere," Sabalenka said.
"She's the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match it was a tricky match but I managed."
Sabalenka, in her second French open semi-final and seeking her first title in Paris, powered into a 3-0 lead, twice breaking the Pole.
Swiatek, who has not won a title this year but reached the semifinals dropping just one set in five matches, looked completely out of sorts.
With seven unforced errors in the first three games she was playing catchup from the start.
The Pole, who late last year accepted a one-month doping ban, struggled with her serve and had racked up two double faults by the fifth game.
She gradually, however, found her range and precision, countering Sabalenka's raw power with superb ball placement and levelled when her opponent double-faulted on break point.
The Belarusian was furious, angrily shouting to her team in the box, before overrunning her opponent in the tiebreak.
The pair traded breaks at the start of the second set before Swiatek earned another to level the match.
But Sabalenka again broke the 24-year-old world number five at the start of the third to take control and she powered through the decider as the Pole ran out of steam.
"It could not be more perfect than that," Sabalenka said of her third set performance.
"I'm super proud right now, I'm glad I found my serve (again in the third set).
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