Loïs Boisson heads into Tuesday’s first round at Wimbledon against Elena Rybakina after a preparation interrupted by a new left calf issue, and the French player says she expects to be at 100% for the match. The 23-year-old, ranked 154th, is trying to turn the page on Roland-Garros while facing the world No. 2 on Court 1. tennis beverage
Boisson and Rybakina in London
Boisson said she will try to win regardless of the opponent, and the draw handed her one of the toughest openings in the field. Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022, which puts the matchup immediately under pressure for a player with little grass-court rhythm.
She learned of the draw while she was at the airport. “J'étais à l'aéroport quand je l'ai appris.” That came after a Wimbledon buildup she described as unusual for her recent schedule, because she went back to training two days after her Roland-Garros match and said she did not need to take a break.
Roland-Garros and April and
Boisson said, “L'après-Roland s'est bien passé, c'était l'avant-Roland qui était compliqué.” She also said, “Je n'avais pas assez touché à ma raquette ces derniers mois, je n'avais pas besoin de couper, c'était tout le contraire, je voulais vite basculer sur le gazon.” Those lines fit the way her season has gone: one win in seven matches since resuming play in April, and only one grass-court match so far this season.
That one grass match ended in a three-set loss to Solana Sierra at s-Hertogenbosch. Against Rybakina, the gap is not just ranking; it is also the amount of grass-court time each player has already had, and Boisson is entering Wimbledon with the thinner recent record.
Court 1 on Tuesday
Boisson said, “J'ai eu un petit truc musculaire sur mon dernier tournoi et j'ai pris le temps pour revenir ici en forme.” She added, “Je pense que serai à 100 % pour mon match.”
She also said Wimbledon is where she wants these matches, because “C'est pour ça que je joue au tennis, pour faire des gros matches sur des grands courts.” The test comes immediately on Court 1, with Boisson trying to back up the confidence she has put on record against a champion who has already owned this stage once.
