‘I don’t think they have daughters’ – French Open night session debate reignites

When Jack Draper and Gael Monfils square off at the French Open on Thursday, a shocking statistic will once more come to mind. The clay-court Grand Slam should do more to promote the women’s game, in light of this.

A women’s singles match hasn’t been on Court Philippe Chatrier’s primetime night slot since 2023, which totals 19 matches in a row.

Only four matches have been played from the women’s draw since the tournament started hosting night sessions in 2021.

The imbalance, which former world number two Ons Jabeur believes has an impact on women’s sport as a whole, is striking and regularly in the news.

It’s unfortunate for all women’s sports. Following her first-round exit on Tuesday, Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam champion, said, “Not for tennis, but in general.”

“I hope whoever makes the decision doesn’t believe their daughters want to be treated this way.

It’s a little ironic, I say. They don’t broadcast women’s tennis, they don’t broadcast women’s tennis, and they then ask, “Ok, but most of the time, they watch men. They will naturally notice more because you show them more. Everything comes together.

Aryna Sabalenka’s fourth-round victory over Sloane Stephens two years ago was the final women’s singles game to take place at Roland Garros that evening.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) did not respond to Jabeur’s comments with a response.

On Monday, FFT President Gilles Moretton defended the tournament’s schedule.

Moretton said, “Sometimes, we need to put the better match, we think could be for the spectators, for the night session.”

I don’t know, maybe there will be many female matches on the night sessions. We’ll see if. Depends on the schedule, which team will play which, and which match will be the best.

Holger Rune, the 12th seed of Denmark, takes on Emilio Nava, the world number 137, in the Roland Garross on Wednesday night.

Only four of the 44 matches to take place under the direction of Court Philippe Chatrier have been women’s singles encounters since 2021:

The WTA advised all combined tournaments to offer a balanced match schedule that showcases the best of both men’s and women’s tennis, and in premium scheduling slots, according to the WTA.

Fans of women’s tennis’s current generation and depth of talent are extraordinary, and they deserve and also anticipate the opportunity to witness these elite performances, athleticism, and excitement on the sport’s biggest stages.

Swiatek emphasized her preference for daytime play on Tuesday.

“We discuss it every year.” My position is unchangeable. She said, “I enjoy playing days, so I’m happy that I’m done and can take a longer break.”

Coco Gauff, the second-seeded American, suggested that more women could compete in the evening session, which was similar to Swiatek’s contention that women shouldn’t play too late.

Maybe there could be a women’s match if there is only one game scheduled for 8:15 p.m., said Gauff.

Over the past few years, discussions about the gender imbalance in the French Open night sessions have become a regular theme.

Why hasn’t anything else, then? Because of the pressure, Roland Garros organizers are reluctant to put it off.

The primetime slot on Amazon Prime, which airs across France, only has one match.

The Australian Open and US Open both use two-night matches, but both risk stretching the play into the early morning hours of the next morning.

Amelie Mauresmo, a former women’s world number one, points out that having just one match is the main reason for her choices in defending her choices.