Loïs Boisson set for major WTA ranking fall after loss

Loïs Boisson is facing a steep fall in the WTA rankings after another early defeat, with the Frenchwoman expected to drop from 227th to 266th in the next update. The projected move would take the 23-year-old beyond the world’s top 260, reversing much of the progress she made during the summer.

Boisson was eliminated in the first round of the Guadalajara tournament by Hungary’s Panna Udvardy. She lost 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 in Mexico, leaving her without a win since August 16, when Belinda Bencic retired during their last-32 match in Cincinnati.

The ranking setback comes only days after Boisson had reached 227th. She gained 10 places despite losing to American Emma Navarro in the opening round of the US Open on August 31, a three-set match that ended 7-6, 6-7, 6-2. Her rise had been particularly rapid: she was ranked 299th on July 20, more than 70 places below her current position.

The latest result also underlines the difficulty of her return after seven months away from the courts because of physical problems. Since resuming competition on April 21, the former Roland-Garros semi-finalist has recorded four victories and 12 defeats. Boisson will next compete in Ankara, Turkey, with the tournament offering her an opportunity to stop the slide in form and ranking.