Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 2, 2025 Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her fourth round match against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Outrage at French Open as Women’s Matches Overlooked in Night Sessions

The French Open is embroiled in a heated controversy as top players like Coco Gauff and Ons Jabeur express frustration over the sidelining of women’s matches in prime-time night slots on Court Philippe-Chatrier. With all six night matches in 2025 featuring men’s singles, the imbalance has sparked backlash from both current and former players.

Jabeur’s pointed remark, “I don’t think they have daughters,” sheds light on the scheduling bias, echoed by Gauff who emphasizes the lack of spotlight on women’s tennis. Despite criticisms, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo remains unmoved, defending the status quo by stating, “We have one single match per night session. It hasn’t changed.”

Former coach of Serena Williams, Rennae Stubbs, has joined the chorus of disapproval, calling out Mauresmo for not featuring a women’s match in night sessions. Stubbs advocates for a simple solution of scheduling two matches per night to ensure equal representation. The debate intensifies as Stubbs questions the rationale behind the decision-making process.

While Mauresmo argues that men’s matches offer better value due to the best-of-five format and longer playtime, critics like Stubbs and Chanda Rubin highlight the missed opportunities for showcasing intense women’s matchups. The WTA has seen thrilling battles, including Iga Swiatek’s comeback victory against Elena Rybakina and Paula Badosa’s clash with Naomi Osaka.

Rubin, on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast, criticizes the late start time of night sessions and questions the necessity of prioritizing men’s matches. She emphasizes the importance of fair scheduling practices and calls out the optics of having a female tournament director at the forefront of the controversy.

As the French Open progresses to the quarterfinals, the looming question remains: will player advocacy lead to a revision of the schedule? The call for action grows louder as voices within the tennis community demand equitable representation in night sessions. Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding saga.