Former grand slam semifinalist smashes racquet after early US Open exit

Former grand slam semifinalist Lois Boisson made headlines during the early rounds of the US Open after a dramatic outburst following her loss to American 26th seed Emma Navarro. Boisson, a former French Open semifinalist and a WTA Tour champion, smashed her racquet in frustration after losing in three sets. The incident occurred on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, marking the first major on-court altercation of the tournament. Boisson, 23, has struggled with consistency this year, facing a series of early exits from tournaments. Her season has been marred by injuries, including a prolonged layoff from professional play between September 2025 and April. Despite achieving a career-high ranking of 34 in February, she has since dropped to 237th in the world rankings. This decline has been compounded by several disappointing performances, with Boisson failing to replicate the form she displayed in the lead-up to the 2025 French Open. Her recent loss to Navarro, a 26th seed, came after a tightly contested match that saw Boisson fall 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-3. As the match concluded, Boisson, visibly frustrated, hurled her racquet to the ground. In a further display of emotion, she retrieved a second racquet and destroyed it with powerful slams before throwing it onto the court. The moment was captured by spectators and television cameras, adding to the growing narrative of emotional highs and lows in the women’s draw. Navarro, meanwhile, advanced to the second round, where she will face either fellow American Caty McNally or Dutch player Anouk Koevermans. The result highlights the unpredictable nature of the early stages of the US Open, where even top-seeded players can find themselves on the receiving end of unexpected upsets. On the men’s side, the tournament opened with a mix of familiar faces and surprising outcomes. World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a third consecutive US Open title, defeating Colombian Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4. Sabalenka, who has been seeking to reclaim her dominant form after a lengthy period without a final, showcased her power with 32 winners in the match. She will next face Russian Polina Iatcenko in the second round. Meanwhile, the men’s draw faced another shakeup with the exit of 10th seed Arthur Fils. Fils, seeded highly based on his previous achievements, fell to Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller. Tsitsipas, who won the Cincinnati Masters earlier this year, defeated Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4. His victory sets up a potential clash with South African Lloyd Harris in the second round. The men’s draw also saw the shocking early departure of tennis legend Novak Djokovic, who was defeated in the opening round. Djokovic, making his 20th appearance at the US Open, expressed pride in his longevity and resilience despite the loss. His exit added to the uncertainty in the men’s bracket, leaving room for other contenders to rise. Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men’s champion, returned to action after nearly five months away due to a wrist injury. He quickly found his rhythm, defeating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a relatively straightforward match. Alcaraz, who has become a fan favorite for his charismatic style and competitive spirit, will next face Portuguese player Jaime Faria. As the tournament progresses, both the men’s and women’s draws continue to evolve, with new names emerging and established stars navigating their paths toward the later stages of the competition. The early rounds have already delivered surprises, setbacks, and moments of raw emotion, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable US Open.