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The Independent
30-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
French Open: 2 of 36 night matches have involved women with Amélie Mauresmo in charge
For the fourth French Open in a row, tournament director Amélie Mauresmo was asked about a lack of women's matches during the tournament's night sessions — there was one in 2022, one in 2023, zero in 2024 and, as of Friday, zero in 2025. And for the fourth French Open in a row, Mauresmo dismissed the issue, saying at a news conference Friday, when she also was pressed about placing women's matches in the noon slot at Court Philippe-Chatrier, when attendance tends to be sparse: "The funny thing is that it's the same questions, year after year." At the other Grand Slam tennis tournaments that sell separate tickets for night sessions, the U.S. Open and Australian Open, the main stadiums tend to feature two singles matches for that part of the daily schedule, one involving women and one involving men. Wimbledon has an 11 p.m. cutoff for competition and doesn't sells tickets for a night session. Roland-Garros added night sessions starting three years ago and the French federation has a contract with a streaming service for viewers in the home country that calls for one daily match in European primetime for the first 1 1/2 weeks of the event. Only two of the 36 contests at night in that stretch were women's matches. Mauresmo, a former player who was ranked No. 1 and won two Grand Slam titles, took over as tournament director ahead of the 2022 tournament. She repeatedly has offered similar explanations for why the night match has almost always been a men's match, including that their best-of-five-set format is likely to offer more time on court for ticket-buyers than the best-of-three setup for women. In recent years, some female players have argued that's a mistake and hurts the growth of their sport, although Mauresmo said Friday that no current or former athletes have complained to her about it or offered their thoughts. Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, was asked about the topic this week and called the current setup 'a shame.' 'It's still sad that we are still seeing this," Jabeur said. 'In Europe, in general, it's unfortunate for women's sports. ... Not for tennis, but 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," Jabeur added. "They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they (say), 'Mostly, (fans) watch men.' Of course they watch men more, because you show men more.' Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending champion in Paris, said it doesn't bother her. 'Every year, we talk about it. My position didn't change: I like playing days, so I'm happy that I'm done and I can have a longer rest,' she said. Mauresmo said that having just one night match hasn't changed, 'So for me, the message is not changing, and has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night.' When a reporter tried to return to matters such as night matches and scheduling women first in Chatrier, asking Mauresmo how big a deal she considers those matters, she replied: 'You know what? I would like to change the subject.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
French Open: 2 of 36 night matches have involved women with Amélie Mauresmo in charge
PARIS (AP) — For the fourth French Open in a row, tournament director Amélie Mauresmo was asked about a lack of women's matches during the tournament's night sessions — there was one in 2022, one in 2023, zero in 2024 and, as of Friday, zero in 2025. And for the fourth French Open in a row, Mauresmo dismissed the issue, saying at a news conference Friday, when she also was pressed about placing women's matches in the noon slot at Court Philippe-Chatrier, when attendance tends to be sparse: 'The funny thing is that it's the same questions, year after year.' At the other Grand Slam tennis tournaments that sell separate tickets for night sessions, the U.S. Open and Australian Open, the main stadiums tend to feature two singles matches for that part of the daily schedule, one involving women and one involving men. Wimbledon has an 11 p.m. cutoff for competition and doesn't sells tickets for a night session. Roland-Garros added night sessions starting three years ago and the French federation has a contract with a streaming service for viewers in the home country that calls for one daily match in European primetime for the first 1 1/2 weeks of the event. Only two of the 36 contests at night in that stretch were women's matches. Mauresmo, a former player who was ranked No. 1 and won two Grand Slam titles, took over as tournament director ahead of the 2022 tournament. She repeatedly has offered similar explanations for why the night match has almost always been a men's match, including that their best-of-five-set format is likely to offer more time on court for ticket-buyers than the best-of-three setup for women. In recent years, some female players have argued that's a mistake and hurts the growth of their sport, although Mauresmo said Friday that no current or former athletes have complained to her about it or offered their thoughts. Ons Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, was asked about the topic this week and called the current setup 'a shame.' 'It's still sad that we are still seeing this,' Jabeur said. 'In Europe, in general, it's unfortunate for women's sports. ... Not for tennis, but 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,' Jabeur added. 'They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they (say), 'Mostly, (fans) watch men.' Of course they watch men more, because you show men more.' Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending champion in Paris, said it doesn't bother her. 'Every year, we talk about it. My position didn't change: I like playing days, so I'm happy that I'm done and I can have a longer rest,' she said. Mauresmo said that having just one night match hasn't changed, 'So for me, the message is not changing, and has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night.' When a reporter tried to return to matters such as night matches and scheduling women first in Chatrier, asking Mauresmo how big a deal she considers those matters, she replied: 'You know what? I would like to change the subject.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rafael Nadal might play an exhibition soon with Roger Federer, says uncle Toni
Rafael Nadal's former coach and uncle Toni has hinted at the Spaniard GOAT playing exhibition matches with Roger Federer, after the French Open gave him a warm sendoff, reminding him of how much the world loved him. Talking to Toni Nadal said the 14-time Roland Garros champion would soon play exhibitions with Roger Federer and, perhaps Novak Djokovic too. 'I imagine he'd like to do some exhibitions with Federer soon, to give back a little of everything tennis has given him and what tennis has meant to him,' Toni Nadal told CLAY and RG Media. Toni speculated that the end of Djokovic's career is approaching, and he too could join the caravan of greats. 'It would be very special for people to see the three of them playing again. And yes, I think they'll have to do something, because I suppose people will be motivated to see them play later on,' quoted him as saying. Nadal, who turns 39 on June 3, had said at Roland Garros that he hasn't touched a racquet for months, but uncle Toni reckoned that at some point he'll want to get in shape for exhibitions. Benito Pérez Barbadillo, the Spaniard's communications manager, told CLAY that he is 'convinced that (Nadal) will consider' playing exhibitions in the future, something he considered 'logical,' although he added that he has 'no knowledge of this' today. Toni added that his nephew hadn't told him about his interest in facing Federer and Djokovic in exhibitions, but he expected it would happen nevertheless. 'I think I've been close enough to him to know him a little and know that he would be excited to play with Federer. Tennis has been a big part of his life, it's meant a big part to him, and you don't just erase it from one day to the next,' he added to When will Nadal return to the courts in the form of exhibitions? Toni told CLAY, 'After these months away from the courts, I think at some point he'll want to get back to training and feel like he's playing the ball well. I'm convinced that soon, quite soon, he'll be back playing.' 2026 was a more realistic target given Rafa was expecting the birth of his second child this year, according to Riffing off Paris, and its elegant ceremony, the Italian Tennis Federation (ITF) too were keen on one such telling CLAY that the Italian Open wants to organize a grand tribute to Nadal, a ten-time champion of the tournament. Rome is considered the most important clay-court tournament after Roland Garros. 'In 2024, Nadal knew there was a tribute planned, but he didn't want to do it. In 2026, it would be logical for us to pay tribute to him, and it's clear that Paris has raised the bar significantly. The most important thing will be to do something he likes,' quoted a source as saying. There's a huge clamour with Madrid Masters 1000 too hinting that they would be happy to welcome him back as an exhibition player. 'And not just once, but ten times if you want!' Gerard Tsobanian, president and CEO of the Spanish tournament, told CLAY in Paris. 'If Rafa can play in a way that doesn't cause him physical pain and can put on a show, like he has all these years, why not?' Tsobanian was quoted as saying by
Sky News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Pope Leo, keen tennis player, gets racket from Sinner during Vatican meeting
Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner beamed as he met the newly elected Pope Leo in the Vatican. The world number one presented the US pontiff, himself a keen tennis player, with a racket after being invited to the Vatican along with his parents and a delegation from the Italian Tennis Federation. The two were pictured laughing as they held a racket each and Sinner, 23, also held a tennis ball. But Leo, who became the 267th pontiff in a historic election earlier this month, declined a suggestion to go for a hit with the three-time grand slam winner, as he looked at the lights on the ceiling and said to laughter: "Better not." Leo joked earlier this week that he didn't want to meet the world number one, at least not in a match. Asked by a journalist if he would take part in a charity match, the 69-year-old appeared up for it, but cautioned: "Just don't bring Sinner". The Pope described himself as "quite the amateur tennis player" in a 2023 interview published by the website of his Augustinian religious order. Sinner is taking part in the Italian Open tennis tournament, which is being staged a short distance from the Vatican, coming back from a three-month doping ban. When asked during a news conference on Monday about the Pope's comments, he blushed and, burying his head in his hands, he said: "Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?". He added: "Obviously I heard that he played as a kid. I think it's a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we're playing."
Sky News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Sinner in the Vatican as tennis star meets Pope Leo
Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner beamed as he met the newly elected Pope Leo in the Vatican. The world number one presented the US pontiff, himself a keen tennis player, with a racket after being invited to the Vatican along with his parents and a delegation from the Italian Tennis Federation. The two were pictured laughing as they held a racket each and Sinner, 23, also held a tennis ball. But Leo, who became the 267th pontiff in a historic election earlier this month, declined a suggestion to go for a hit with the three-time grand slam winner, as he looked at the lights on the ceiling and said to laughter: "Better not." Leo joked earlier this week that he didn't want to meet the world number one, at least not in a match. Asked by a journalist if he would take part in a charity match, the 69-year-old appeared up for it, but cautioned: "Just don't bring Sinner". The Pope described himself as "quite the amateur tennis player" in a 2023 interview published by the website of his Augustinian religious order. Sinner is taking part in the Italian Open tennis tournament, which is being staged a short distance from the Vatican, coming back from a three-month doping ban. When asked during a news conference on Monday about the Pope's comments, he blushed and, burying his head in his hands, he said: "Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?". He added: "Obviously I heard that he played as a kid. I think it's a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we're playing."
