Laser-focused Gauff ends Boisson's dream run to reach French Open final

PARIS :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.

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.

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 U.S. 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 per cent 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 quarter-final 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