The French Open has not featured a women’s match in its night session since Sloane Stephens’ defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 third round.
A significant question persists at the French Open: Why are prominent female players consistently overlooked for the tournament’s highly sought-after night session?
All 32 of the most recent primetime sessions, designed to showcase the sport to a wide audience across France, Europe, and the United States, have been allocated to men’s matches.
No women’s match has been scheduled at night since 2023.
It was particularly telling when four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka stated on Saturday that she does not “even associate” the French Open with night matches.
Since the introduction of single-match sessions in 2021, only four of the 60 slots on Court Philippe Chatrier have been given to women, including Sunday’s scheduled night match between Casper Ruud and Joao Fonseca.
American world number five Jessica Pegula expressed last year that she felt like she was “hitting her head against the wall” on this issue, while two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur questioned whether the decision-makers “have daughters.”
Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open women’s singles champion, has reiterated the need for change.
The Latvian player is among the few women who have participated in a night session, having played her second-round match against France’s Alize Cornet there in 2022.
“I wish women’s tennis could be shown more in those spots. The men always have the priority with the scheduling, they take the most popular slots, and on bigger courts,” Ostapenko told BBC Sport.
“I like to play at night – especially when the stadiums are full. I’m the kind of player that really enjoys it when there are a lot of fans watching and I think that’s what we all play for.”
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This debate is not new, yet the situation remains unchanged.
For the past three years, concerns have been raised about whether the French Open should increase its efforts to showcase women’s tennis.
“I don’t think they have daughters, because I don’t think they want to treat their daughters like this,” said Jabeur.
The lack of progress prompted the recently appointed WTA chief executive, Valerie Camillo, to seek answers from French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo—a former women’s world number one—during their meeting at Roland Garros this week.
In what the WTA described as an open and productive conversation, Camillo emphasized her belief that women’s players have delivered some of the “most exciting and dynamic competition in global sport” in recent months and years.
Whether Camillo’s call for action will be heeded remains to be seen.
Mauresmo has consistently argued that the potential for women’s matches to conclude “really fast” justifies the current scheduling decisions.
With ticket prices ranging from €60 to €280 (£50 to £240), tournament organizers believe that the possibility of a short, two-set women’s match does not represent sufficient value for the ticket price.
Mauresmo has maintained that the night sessions will not be extended to include two matches, as is the case at the Australian Open and US Open, due to concerns about late finishes.
Will the French Open reconsider its position? The tournament remained firm last year, despite pressure from players, the women’s governing body, and—according to reports, external—broadcasters.
Former world number one Osaka is scheduled to face Aryna Sabalenka—the current top-ranked female player—in the round of 16 on Monday.
The Japanese player stated that she was unsure whether this high-profile match would be considered for the night session, but added that she felt the slot was reserved for “popcorn matches.”
If Osaka versus Sabalenka does not meet the French Open’s criteria, it seems unlikely that any match will.
“I hope it will change,” added Ostapenko.
“Even if it’s not me playing, I would like to see some women’s matches there. But I don’t know that we will.”
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