Loïs Boisson's US Open Exit as Navarro Advances

Loïs Boisson arrived in New York trying to restart a stalled career. She left Arthur Ashe Stadium with her racquet in pieces and another brutal first-round exit on the record.

The 23-year-old Frenchwoman, once a Roland Garros semifinalist and a rising force on the WTA Tour, crashed out in three tense sets to American 26th seed Emma Navarro, 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-3, before venting her fury in one of the tournament’s first viral moments.

It ended with a mis-hit. Serving to stay alive at 3-5 in the decider, Boisson floated a tentative backhand slice that died halfway up the net. Navarro claimed the win; Boisson snapped.

She first spiked her racquet to the court in disgust. The handshake at the net came and went, Navarro turning to salute an appreciative home crowd. Behind her, Boisson reached for a second racquet and unleashed all the frustration of a lost year, hammering it three times into the hard court and then flinging it away.

It was raw, unfiltered, and it told the story of her last 12 months.

Once ranked as high as 34 in the world — a mark she hit in February despite not playing between September 2025 and April — Boisson has watched her ranking plummet to 237. Injuries wrecked her rhythm. The comeback has been full of early exits and short weeks, a far cry from the “stunning form” that had her earmarked as one of the next big threats on clay and beyond.

This was supposed to be a step back towards that level. Instead, it became a third straight first-round loss at a major this season. The margins were agonisingly fine: a tight opening-set tiebreak that slipped away 8-6, a superb response in the second where she dominated the breaker 7-1, then a final set where Navarro’s composure outlasted Boisson’s brittle confidence.

The American stayed steady in the big moments, using her weight of shot to pin Boisson back and forcing the Frenchwoman to come up with low-percentage replies under pressure. The final, failed slice summed it up — an idea without the execution to match.

Boisson will now have to pick up the pieces, literally and figuratively, and try to salvage something from a year that keeps asking hard questions.

Navarro, meanwhile, moves on with purpose. The 26th seed will face either fellow American Caty McNally or Dutch player Anouk Koevermans in the second round, her section of the draw opening up just as her own form appears to be hardening.