Coco sets Sabalenka date

Coco Gauff ended local heroine Lois Boisson's dream run at the French Open as she kept her cool in a fiery atmosphere to earn a ruthless 6-1 6-2 victory on Thursday, setting up a blockbuster final with top seed Aryna Sabalenka.

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Laser-focused, the world number two from the U.S. 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.

"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."

Earlier, World number one Aryna Sabalenka battled past four-times champion Iga Swiatek to reach her first French Open final on Thursday with a 7-6(1) 4-6 6-0 victory that ended the Pole’s reign in Paris and snapped her 26-game winning streak in the tournament.

The Belarusian’s power proved 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.

Swiatek had won the previous three editions along with her maiden crown in 2020 The top seed will now play either France’s Lois Boisson, the first player in the Open Era to reach this stage of the French Open as a wildcard, or second-seeded American Coco Gauff in Saturday’s showcase match.

“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, playing her second French open semi-final and seeking her first title in Paris, powered into a 3-0 lead, twice breaking the Pole. She kept attacking her opponent’s serve with Swiatek winning just 35% of her points on her second serve.

Swiatek, who late last year accepted a one-month doping ban and came into the tournament without a single title win this season, had reached the semi-finals dropping just one set in five matches. But she looked completely out of sorts.