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Associated Press
2 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Top-ranked Sabalenka plays in front of empty seats at French Open, calls for fairer scheduling
PARIS (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka is the top-ranked player in women's tennis. Yet even that status didn't spare her from competing in front of empty seats at Roland-Garros, something she says isn't fair. The three-time Grand Slam champion faced China's Zheng Qinwen in the first quarterfinal match on Tuesday, beginning at 11 a.m. on Court Philippe-Chatrier. When play began, large sections of the 15,000-seat stadium were still unoccupied — a common sight in the early hours at the French Open, when many ticket holders opt for lunch or arrive later in the day. 'It was a big match and probably would make more sense to put us a little bit later just so more people could watch it,' Sabalenka said after her 7-6 (3), 6-3 win. ' I definitely think that would make more sense to kind of like move our match for a little bit later.' But scheduling more night sessions for women is proving a tough issue to resolve for French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo. Since the introduction of night sessions in 2021, only four women's singles matches have been featured in that marquee time slot. Serena Williams played in the first-ever night match at Roland-Garros, but pandemic restrictions meant the stands were empty. No women's matches have been scheduled for the evening session this year, something Sabalenka said should change. Asked about her views on the fact that women haven't played a single night match this year, the player from Belarus said they deserve 'equal treatment.' 'There was a lot of ... great battles, a lot of great matches which would be cool to see as night sessions,' she said. 'Just more people in the stands watching these incredible battles. And just to show ourselves to more people. I definitely agree that we deserve to be put on a bigger stage. Like better timing, more people watching.' There was, however, one upside to the early start for Sabalenka ahead of her semifinal against four-time champion Iga Swiatek. 'I'm happy to finish earlier and then I have a half day off and I can just enjoy the city and do all the things that I have to do,' she said. ___ More AP tennis:
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
She's no poker player but Iga Swiatek's hand has improved at Roland Garros thanks to Jelena Ostapenko losing to Elena Rybakina
Iga or Aryna, that is the question at Roland Garros this year. Who is favourite for the women's title? Do we go with form and plump for Aryna Sabalenka, dominant world No 1 and Madrid champion. Or with the history of Iga Swiatek, in a terrible funk but a four-time champion here, including the last three in a row. The question was put to Sabalenka after her 6-2, 6-3 dismissal of Olga Danilovic, and the Belarusian replied: 'I don't know. It's tough to predict in women's tennis. Let's just leave it on Iga since she won it, what, three times in a row, right? Let's just... I will just leave it for her.' This reporter is inclined to agree with Sabalenka — because of one result on Friday. Not Swiatek's 6-2, 7-5 win over Jaqueline Cristian but Elena Rybakina's defeat of Jelena Ostapenko. That means Swiatek faces Rybakina in the fourth round on Sunday, rather than her kryptonite match-up with Ostapenko. The diminutive Latvian has won all six of their previous meetings. Ostapenko's clash with Rybakina was still going on when Swiatek spoke to the press, and the Pole was asked whether she had a preference on her opponent in the next round. She attempted the usual pat answer but could not keep a straight face. 'No,' she said, before dissolving into laughter. 'Am I a good liar? Let's say it doesn't matter, really. Oh, my God. I couldn't play poker.' Maybe not but she plays tennis extremely well, and nowhere better than here. A large element of pre-tournament pessimism over her prospects was the presence of Ostapenko in the fourth round. Now she has been removed, the way looks smoother — although 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina presents a tough test. The smart money remains on Sabalenka and Swiatek meeting in the semi-finals here — and the victor going on to claim the title.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Women are 'worthy' of French Open night sessions
French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has rejected accusations that not scheduling women's matches in the tournament's night session implies female players are not "worthy" of the first six night sessions at Roland Garros have all been men's singles a news conference earlier this week, two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur said the decision - which is debated every year - affects the growth of women's a former WTA world number one, says no women's players have complained directly to her about the if she understood that not picking women's matches led to some women feeling "not worthy", Mauresmo replied: "That's not what we're saying. I have to stop you right there."For me, the message that I always said, and I will repeat, is the conditions have not changed of having one unique match in the evening."The message has never been the girls are not worthy of playing at night. It's never been this." Mauresmo still has to make a decision on which match will feature in Saturday's night session - which will clash with Paris St-Germain facing Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich."The Champions League final won't change much for us anyway," she said."We are trying to do the utmost for the tournament. We are very happy for PSG but we are organising our own event."There will be 15,000 people here so we want to give them the best possible match." Why has the French Open not changed format? The French Open night sessions - which were introduced in 2021 - feature just one singles match on Court Philippe Chatrier.A women's singles match, which are played over three sets, has not been put in this primetime slot since 2023 - meaning the past 19 night-time sessions have been men's singles matches, which are played over five four matches have been from the women's draw since they were brought in four years are raised every year about whether the French Open should do more to promote the women's says women's matches potentially going "really fast" is the justification behind the choices."There is nothing new under the sun compared to the previous editions," she said."We have one single match per night session. It hasn't changed. We won't change everything again.""Two sets can go really fast when you have three sets minimum - that's the lens for me. "It's not the level the [women] reach right now. I'm not talking about this."Mauresmo also said the tournament does not want to have two matches in the night session, like the Australian Open and US Open, in fear of creating late pointed to the full crowd at Thursday night's match between French favourite Gael Monfils and British number one Jack we have two matches in the night sessions, it doesn't work in terms of how late the players are going to finish," she said."But if we start earlier, the stands are going to be empty in most of the first match, so we keep this one match in the evening." It's not ideal. We cannot check every box because we have many, many things to think when we are doing these choices." Will there be any change? Mauresmo became frustrated with the questions about the lack of women's night matches during Friday's news answering several question about the subject, she quickly shut down another one towards the end of the half-hour event, saying she wanted to "change the subject".Earlier Mauresmo attempted to move on from the issue by implying there would be some women's matches picked over the coming days."Maybe we talk about this on the last Sunday," she will be hoping the women's draw throws up some potential options for night matches."We have some rivalries which are interesting – Iga [Swiatek], Coco [Gauff], Aryna {Sabalenka], Madison [Keys]," she added."I think we are going through a very good era with interesting personalities and the level of play is very high. "The level is much higher than before. We have more of an equal footing that before."
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Coco Gauff Says French Open Must ‘Improve' Scheduling For Women's Matches
Coco Gauff would like to see the French Open 'improve' its scheduling by adding women's night matches. Last year, all 11 night matches – which begin at 8:15 p.m. and are ticketed separately – featured men's matches, and so far this year all the night matches have involved men. The last women's singles match featured in prime time came in 2023, and there have been only four since night sessions began in 2021. 'I talked about this a few days ago, and to be honest, I didn't really have all the facts about the situation," Gauff said following her second-round victory over Tereza Valentova, 6-2, 6-4. 'I do think that women's matches are worthy of a night spot.' Unlike the U.S. Open and Australian Open, which both feature two night matches (one men's and one women's), Roland Garros features only one prime time match. Gauff said she doesn't feel women's night matches should be scheduled after the men. 'And I think, to be honest, if there were gonna be two spots [in Paris], I don't think that a woman should play after the men at 8:15,' she said. "I just think that's unfair. Because you could go on at 11:00. And that's if the match really goes fast. I think there is opportunity to put the match earlier at like 7:00.. like most tournaments do the 2 night slots. I think if they're gonna put one match at 8:15, there for sure could be opportunity to put a woman there. And if they're gonna put two slots and the first match is starting at 8:15, I don't think a woman's match should be play after a men's match. I don't think people should be going on at 11:00 or 12:00 to be honest. "I definitely do agree with Ons. When you feel, like, what's best for the fans.. but I feel like we produce some high quality tennis and we have some great stars on the women's sides that fans would love to see. From my experience playing at U.S. Open, night match at 7:00 pm, with Novak [Djokovic] following me, and he's the greatest player of all time, people were almost just as excited to see me play as him. And same as other places I've played like Australia, night match, people were excited to see too. So I definitely think there's opportunity to improve that in the future with this tournament.' Ons Jabeur previously criticized French Open officials for not scheduling any women's night matches, calling it 'sad.' "It's still sad that we are still seeing this," Jabeur said. "I keep standing by my words. "In Europe, in general, it's unfortunate for women's sports in general. Not for tennis but for in general. I hope 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. "You know, 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 the Prime, whatever called the TV, 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]
