"I could never have imagined that": after her victory (6-2, 6-2) against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, 8th in the world, the Frenchwoman is struggling to achieve.

"I thought I would be eliminated in the first round in two sets, and now I have just beaten one of the ten best players in the world, it's just totally crazy!".

The joy of the French Léolia Jeanjean, after her victory (6-2, 6-2) against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, on May 26, 2022 in the 2nd round of the Roland-Garros tournament Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Returning to the professional circuit at the end of 2020, Jeanjean, who is ranked 227th in the world, is the lowest ranked player to beat a member of the women's top 10 at Roland-Garros since Conchita Martinez, then a debutant on the circuit, in 1988.

That was long before the birth of Jeanjean, who was born in Montpellier in 1995. Beginning tennis at the age of six, the little girl was quickly presented as one of the great hopes of French tennis, to the point of to be called the "Mozart of tennis", just like his compatriot Richard Gasquet.

But at 14, her knee let go.

Triple dislocation of the patella, a year of rehabilitation, then a relapse.

The beautiful story ends abruptly.

The sponsors, the French tennis federation, all those who extolled it, are suddenly absent subscribers.

"Regret Nothing"

His parents advise him to concentrate on his studies.

After getting his baccalaureate by correspondence, Jeanjean therefore left for the United States.

There she obtained a "licence in sociology, a license in criminal justice and a Master's degree in finance, investment in wealth. A lot of things that have nothing to do with each other, but it's like my life: it goes a bit in all the senses", she smiles today.

Without however forgetting the darker moments.

"It was really hard, I had really difficult times when I thought I would never play tennis again," recalls Jeanjean.

"It still took me a while to get over it all and use it as a strength to come back."

Because tennis, Léolia has never really forgotten.

In the United States, she participates in a few university meetings, and once her studies are finished, she says to herself: "get back on the circuit, so much the better if it works, otherwise it's not too serious, at least I would have done as I wanted to do".

The joy of the French Léolia Jeanjean, after her victory (6-2, 6-2) against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, on May 26, 2022 in the 2nd round of the Roland-Garros tournament Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

The return is far from simple.

At the start "it was quite hard physically to keep up the pace, to chain the matches, etc. (...) But I wanted to come back so as not to regret anything", she explains.

"Who is this girl?"

So she starts from scratch or almost, with no one to help her.

"I lived on RSA (Active Solidarity Income) and APL (Personalized Housing Assistance). (...) I put all the money I had in a week-long tournament and if that happened well, it paid me an extra week, if it went badly, I didn't play for two months because it was financially impossible", recalled Jeanjean recently.

But on the ITF circuit (second division of tennis), the feelings return, the results too.

Semi-finals, finals and then a title in April, almost a month before the start of Roland-Garros.

This good start to the season (27 wins for nine losses) earned him an invitation to the Parisian Grand Slam.

Just like in 2009 and 2010, when she was invited to play in the junior tournament.

The French Léolia Jeanjean, during her second round match against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, on May 26, 2022 at Roland-Garros Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Back to square one, 12 years later?

Not quite.

Because exiting each time in the first round in his young years, Jeanjean does not want to miss his chance this time.

Coming back from nowhere is her strength today.

"The players on the circuit must say to themselves: + But who is this girl? + They have no idea who I am, how I play. Whereas I had time to get to know them , it's an advantage".

The joy of the French Léolia Jeanjean, after beating the Czech Karolina Pliskova, 8th in the world, 6-2, 6-2 in the 2nd round at Roland-Garros, on May 26, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

The following ?

Jeanjean prefers not to think about it.

"I live the moment, I'm not in the euphoria, I savor. (...) Finally, I am where I always wanted to be since I was little".

© 2022 AFP