Latest news with #GillesMoretton
The National
28-05-2025
- General
- The National
Ons Jabeur takes aim at French Open organisers as Carlos Alcaraz eases into third round
Ons Jabeur has criticised French Open organisers over their continued snubbing of women's matches in prime-time TV slots. Night-session matches were introduced at Roland Garros in 2021 but have been dominated by men's singles ties. All 11 prime-time matches last year featured men and a same pattern has emerged in this tournament with the first three following suit so far. Jabeur was also critical of French Open bosses last year saying players deserve 'better scheduling' after several matches went on beyond midnight. French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton this week insisted the schedule is geared towards what is better for fans. 'Sometimes we have to think about what could be better for spectators' he said. 'That's why sometimes we have to make some choices.' Those comments have infuriated three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur who took aim at Moretton after her first-round defeat against Magdalena Frech. 'It's still sad that we are still seeing this,' said the Tunisian. 'In Europe, it's unfortunate for women's sports in general. 'Whoever is making the decision, I don't think they have daughters, because I don't think they want to treat their daughters like this. 'It's a bit ironic. They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they ask the question, 'yeah, but mostly they watch men'. Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together. 'It's a shame from the Federation, a shame from [Amazon] Prime, that they made such a contract like this. A lot of great players, they deserve to be there. 'One of the matches was Naomi [Osaka] and Paula [Badosa]. Such an unbelievable match. They were supposed to be there. Like last year, Iga [Swiatek] and Naomi was supposed to be there. A lot of great matches, they should have been there. 'I'm not sure what kind of fans he's talking about. I know I'm a fan. I will watch that match.' In Tuesday's action, four-time Paris champion Swiatek brushed aside Emma Raducanu in ruthless fashion on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Polish fifth seed, who is looking to win her fourth French Open title in a row, outclassed her British opponent from to start to finish on her way to a 6-1, 6-2 second-round win. Italian fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, a surprise runner-up last year, barely put a foot wrong as she brushed aside Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-3. 'A little bit of ups and downs but I'm happy I won,' said last year's runner-up Paolini, who advances to play Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva. China's Zheng Qinwen, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion at Roland Garros, powered past Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-2, 6-3, with the eighth seed's big-hitting game proved too much for the world No 85. The Chinese star faces another Grand Slam debutant in the next round, 18-year-old Victoria Mboko of Canada. Ukrainian 13th seed Elina Svitolina and US 16th seed Amanda Anisimova also progressed. In the men's draw, reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz eased into the third round after disposing of unseeded Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier. 'Second set, he started to play better and he didn't miss a lot so it was a little bit difficult to deal with his game,' said Alcaraz. 'I'm really happy I stayed strong and refreshed myself. In the third set, I started to play better and better which helped me have a really good last two sets.' Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner, goes on to face French 31st seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Bosnian Damir Dzumhur for a place in the last-16. Seventh seed and two-time finalist Casper Ruud fell to a shock defeat against Nuno Borges as the Portuguese claimed the biggest win of his career. Norwegian Ruud looked far from his best and was clearly not fully fit and could barely move by the end of his 6-2, 4-6, 1-6, 0-6 defeat that finished in two hours and 17 minutes. 'Hopefully it is nothing too serious but for the last couple of weeks I've been struggling with knee pain,' Ruud told a press conference. 'In practice it is easier to avoid certain movements, certain shots. But when you play matches you can't control it the same way. 'Sometimes you kind of forget that this is a shot I shouldn't go for maybe in terms of pain in the knee. I still played good tennis in the first two sets,' he said. 'It's a Slam, I didn't want to retire.'
LeMonde
28-05-2025
- Sport
- LeMonde
French Open first round illustrates France's decline in women's tennis
Gilles Moretton chose to get ahead of the situation. On Monday, May 26, the day after the 2025 edition of the French Open started, the president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) met with the press to discuss several topics, including the country's alarming results in the women's game. The 67-year-old leader was well aware that French women's tennis is going through a turbulent period – one that is dangerously stretching. It was time to think positively, highlight the good matches played by French women in qualifying, and pin hopes on future generations, the players born in "2012, 2013, 2014." On Tuesday evening, no one was looking that far ahead, after the first round of the tournament. Only three Frenchwomen made it through to the second round, just as in 1983 (the year the draw expanded to 128 players) and 2019, the worst years for French women's tennis. Of the nine players on the starting line – another record low since 1983 – only Léolia Jeanjean, Elsa Jacquemot and Loïs Boisson managed to avoid early exits. The three deserve credit for seizing their chance to qualify. But if the FFT had not had eight wild cards to distribute for the main draw, none of them would have avoided a perilous qualifying stage. With her wild card, Jeanjean was able to face and ultimately benefit from the retirement of Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu (0-6, 7-5, 3-0), who injured her knee. Jacquemot got the better of Greece's Maria Sakkari (6-3, 7-6). The day's standout achievement went to Boisson, who, late on Tuesday, knocked out the 24 th seed, Elise Mertens of Belgium (6-4, 4-6, 6-3).
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Ons Jabeur hits out at lack of women's matches in French Open primetime slots
Ons Jabeur has criticised Roland Garros for snubbing women's tennis, saying: 'I don't think they have daughters.' The French Open introduced night-session matches in 2021 but they have almost always been men's singles matches. Last year all 11 prime-time TV slot matches featured men and the three so far this year have followed suit, while Wednesday night's is the Danish 12th seed Holger Rune against the American world No 137 Emilio Nava. Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Tennis Federation, caused controversy this week when he said the schedule is dictated by what will be 'better for spectators'. The Tunisian former Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur said: 'It's still sad that we are still seeing this. In Europe it's unfortunate for women's sports in general. Whoever is making the decision, I don't think they have daughters, because I don't think they want to treat their daughters like this. 'It's a bit ironic. They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they ask the question, 'yeah, but mostly they watch men.' Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together. It's a shame from the Federation, a shame from [Amazon] Prime, that they made such a contract like this. A lot of great players, they deserve to be there. 'One of the matches was Naomi [Osaka] and Paula [Badosa]. Such an unbelievable match. They were supposed to be there. Like last year, Iga [Swiatek] and Naomi was supposed to be there. A lot of great matches, they should have been there. I'm not sure what kind of fans he's talking about. I know I'm a fan. I will watch that match.' Jabeur suffered a first-round exit at Roland Garros on Tuesday when she was beaten in straight sets by Poland's Magdalena Frech.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Ons Jabeur hits out at French Open chiefs as women's night session snub continues
Ons Jabeur has criticised Roland Garros chiefs for snubbing women's tennis, saying: 'I don't think they have daughters!' The French Open introduced night-session matches in 2021 but they have almost exclusively featured a men's singles match. Last year all 11 prime-time TV slot matches featured men and the three so far this year have followed suit, while Wednesday night's is Danish 12th seed Holger Rune against American world no 137 Emilio Nava. Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Tennis Federation, caused controversy this week when he said the schedule is dictated by what will be 'better for spectators'. Former Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur said: 'It's still sad that we are still seeing this. 'In Europe it's unfortunate for women's sports in general. Whoever is making the decision, I don't think they have daughters, because I don't think they want to treat their daughters like this. 'It's a bit ironic. They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they ask the question, 'yeah, but mostly they watch men'. Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together. 'It's a shame from the Federation, a shame from (Amazon) Prime, that they made such a contract like this. A lot of great players, they deserve to be there. 'One of the matches was Naomi [Osaka] and Paula [Badosa]. Such an unbelievable match. They were supposed to be there. Like last year, Iga (Swiatek) and Naomi was supposed to be there. A lot of great matches, they should have been there. 'I'm not sure what kind of fans he's talking about. I know I'm a fan. I will watch that match.'
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ons Jabeur criticises French Open chiefs as women's prime time snub continues
Ons Jabeur has criticised Roland Garros chiefs for snubbing women's tennis, saying: 'I don't think they have daughters!' The French Open introduced night-session matches in 2021 but they have almost exclusively featured a men's singles match. Last year all 11 prime-time TV slot matches featured men and the three so far this year have followed suit, while Wednesday night's is Danish 12th seed Holger Rune against American world number 137 Emilio Nava. Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Tennis Federation, caused controversy this week when he said the schedule is dictated by what will be 'better for spectators'. Former Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur said: 'It's still sad that we are still seeing this. 'In Europe it's unfortunate for women's sports in general. Whoever is making the decision, I don't think they have daughters, because I don't think they want to treat their daughters like this. 'It's a bit ironic. They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they ask the question, 'yeah, but mostly they watch men'. Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together. 'It's a shame from the Federation, a shame from (Amazon) Prime, that they made such a contract like this. A lot of great players, they deserve to be there. ' One of the matches was Naomi (Osaka) and Paula (Badosa). Such an unbelievable match. They were supposed to be there. Like last year, Iga (Swiatek) and Naomi was supposed to be there. A lot of great matches, they should have been there. 'I'm not sure what kind of fans he's talking about. I know I'm a fan. I will watch that match.'
