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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Lopsided scheduling at Roland Garros remains depressingly familiar, writes MATTHEW LAMBWELL, the truth is the French Open's night session is a flawed concept to begin with
Deja vu, plus ca change - pick your local phrase but whichever way you slice it, the French Open 's lopsided scheduling remains depressingly familiar. After seven days of the tournament, every prime-time night session match has been a men's singles. The first match on Philippe Chatrier - when it's always half-empty because the locals are having lunch - has been a women's singles every day. Amelie Mauresmo did her usual mid-tournament press conference and was taken to task once again. 'The same questions year after another,' said the 45-year-old. 'Same answers,' replied her interrogator. Quite. 'We have to take it into consideration the 15,000 spectators coming in for the night session,' said Mauresmo. 'Since men's tennis is played at the best-of-five sets, three sets will be played at a minimum. It's complicated for us to do otherwise.' To sum up her position: when there is only one match in the night session, we will always go for a men's match because that guarantees the punters a minimum of three sets, rather than two. Why can't you have two matches, a men's and a women's? Because then the night session would finish too late. Why can't you start it earlier? Because people wouldn't be able to get there in time after leaving work, so the stands would be empty for the first match. It is not easy to argue with any of her reasoning, but that does not make the end result any more palatable. The truth is, the Roland Garros night session is a flawed concept to begin with. The contract with Amazon Prime Video - shaving off that one match per day from the main domestic TV deal - should never have been signed. It is a cash grab - both for TV rights and the ability to fleece fans by selling two separate tickets for one day of action. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam remaining without a night session - and we can thank Wandsworth council's 11pm curfew for that. But in Melbourne and New York they always have two evening matches - one men's, one women's. If you can't do that, they don't have a night session – this event managed just fine for 120 years without one. It's too bloody cold in Paris in May for watching tennis at midnight, anyway – remember all the fans tucked up in blankets for Nadal v Djokovic in 2022? Mauresmo's lack of empathy and awareness on this issue is staggering. How can a former WTA star fail to understand - or acknowledge - the importance of visibility and platforming for the women's game? Women's tennis in France is going to the dogs – they have no one in the world's top 70. How are Mauresmo and Co going to change that when little girls come home from school, watch their national tournament and are greeted by a female-free zone?
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Violent protests erupt in California as trans athlete thrashes female rivals in defiance of Trump's executive order - as her glamorous mother hits back at president
Violent protests have descended on a California schoolgirl competition after a teenage trans athlete thrashed her female rivals in defiance of Donald Trump 's executive order. AB Hernandez, 17, sealed her place in three finals yesterday - high jump, long jump and triple jump - after coming out on top in all of her preliminary heats. This included a triple jump of 41 feet - nearly 10 inches further than her closest rival. The dramatic row has sparked fury across the US, with Trump even threatening to hold back 'large scale Federal Funding' and blasting the state governor who he claims has continued to 'ILLEGALLY allow "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS"'. Hernansez's glamorous mother, who has also been confronted by angry parents whose daughters are losing out on gold medals, yesterday responded to the dramatic onslaught. She slammed the President's 'weapons of harm' and saying her daughter had become the 'target of a national campaign of cruelty'. Hernandez has previously faced controversy from her own competitors - with a teenage girl they beat to first place waited for her rival to get down from the top of the podium before posing up there herself. And as protesters descended on the California Interscholastic Federation state finals police were dramatically called in - with protesters 'turning physical' and even using pepper spray. They arrested one alleged LGBTQ activist, who is accused of shattering a car window with a flag pole - as Sergeant Chris Hutchison of Clovis Police Department said he doesn't 'have room for violence.' Videos of the alleged attack show a masked protestor with a trans flag walking up to a car before thrusting it through the window. The person in the car claims that they responded with pepper spray. As the girls took to the field, a plane even flew a banner across the high school track-and-field championships stating 'No boys in girls sports'. While the girl competed she was heckled by gathered activists and others wore 'Save Girls´ Sports' T-shirts. AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley qualified for three event finals: long jump, high jump and triple jump The nation is now holding its breath as the finals will kick off today - with Hernandez predicted to dominate her categories. In February, Trump signed an executive order banning trans athletes from women's sports called 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports'. The pledge was one of Trump's most popular rallying cries during the 2024 election campaign and his move to follow through on his vow was celebrated by many sports fans. Ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Department of Homeland Security has been ordered to 'reject any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying as women athletes'. As well as her triple jump triumph, the teenager also led in the long jump with a mark close to 20 feet to advance to the final. She advanced in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 5 inches with ease. The controversial Jurupa Valley track star has been outspoken about transgender women participating in female sports in the past. In a recent interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez said: 'There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own. 'I'm still a child, you're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.' In reference to placing first, Hernandez said: 'All I thought was, "I don't think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash. She can't be beat because she's biologically male." Now you have no proof that I can't be beat.' Trump's tirade came after his Executive Order titled Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports - as he demanded Governor Gavin Newsom, who he calls 'Newscum', should stop allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in sex-segregated sports 'California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,"' he wrote on May 27. 'This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won "everything," and is now qualified to compete in the "State Finals" next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable.' Then, he added in all caps, 'THIS IS NOT FAIR AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.' Trump went on to threaten: 'Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. 'The Governor, himself, said it is "UNFAIR." I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime, I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!' Following through on his threat, the DOJ announced yesterday that it would be ramping up an investigation into the state's high school sports amid fears of Title IX violations. But Nereyda said the President he needed to 'open your heart and mind to learn about the LGBTQ+ community'. The mother wrote: 'From the people living these lives with courage, love and dignity. As a leader of this country, you have the power to unite, to educate, and to uplift rather than destroy. 'Hate has no place in leadership and NO child, ESPECIALLY not MINE, should become the target of a national campaign of cruelty just because they are different. We need a president who protects ALL children, not just the ones that fit a political narrative.' She ended by saying, 'We must choose unity over division, love over hate, and humanity over politics. 'My child is not a threat; SHE IS LIGHT!!! As AB's mother, I will continue to stand by her, proudly fiercely, and unconditionally.' At the end of the post, it was signed 'AB's Mom' with a heart emoji. Nereyda declined to give a comment to but stated: 'I'm sure you can understand where I am coming from. 'My Primary responsibility is to protect AB's wellbeing, privacy, and dignity and we have decided to respectfully decline an interview.' Yesterday's event sparked shocking scenes when at least one protestor was reportedly detained by Clovis Police Department. The person, said to be an LGBTQ activist, is accused of shattering a car window with a flag pole, according to Fox news. They have been arrested for assault with a weapon and obstructing a police, according to Sergeant Chris Hutchison, who said the department doesn't 'have room for violence.' 'This afternoon at 3:55PM, a disturbance between two adults occurred at the intersection of Nees/Minnewawa,' a statement, via the outlet, read. 'One adult on the sidewalk and one in a vehicle at the intersection became involved in a disturbance that turned physical. 'During the disturbance, one of them used pepper spray against the other. EMS was called and one of the adults was arrested.' During the meet, which took place at the school's Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, a plane carrying a banner featuring the message 'CIF: NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS' flew in circles overhead throughout Hernandez's high jump event - her first of the day, which began at 3pm local time. The banner action, arranged by women-led advocacy groups The Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) and Women Are Real (WAR), took aim at the CIF for 'undermining the integrity of women's sports.' 'This is not equality. This is appeasement,' said Julie Lane, spokesperson for Women Are Real, said in a statement to 'Girls should not need a workaround or a second-tier medal ceremony to participate in their own sport.' Hernandez waiting to compete at the girl's long jump during the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet on May 24, which allowed her to qualify for the state championships Donald Trump had ordered California authorities to block her from competing in the meet Meanwhile, a group of around 10 demonstrators gathered outside Veterans Memorial Stadium to protest Hernandez's inclusion, according to the Orange County Register. Some of them wore 'Save Girls´ Sports' T-shirts. At one point as Hernandez was attempting a high jump, someone in the stands yelled an insult. 'I wouldn't need to know a single thing about AB Hernandez other than the fact that AB Hernandez is male in a female competition,' Blake Nestell, a Fresno resident, told the outlet at the event Friday. Earlier this week, Donald Trump lambasted California as he threatened to yank federal funding to the state unless it adhered to his Executive Order titled Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports. AB Hernandez, as a girl in the Varsity Long Jump category, had a seed mark of 19' 3.5' and in the triple jump category 40' 4.75'. If she had, as a biological male, competed against the boys in this year's championship, AB would not have qualified in this weekend's championships. In track and field, a 'seed mark' refers to an athlete's performance level, typically their fastest time or best distance achieved in a previous meet, used to arrange athletes into heats or sections for a competition. This helps in creating fairer competition by grouping athletes with similar abilities together.
CBC
19 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
PWHL Vancouver general manager excited to build expansion team's inaugural roster
Cara Gardner Morey knows her life is about to get very busy. As the first general manager of Vancouver's new Professional Women's Hockey League team, her schedule for the upcoming weeks rapidly filled as the league announced plans for its two expansion teams to build out their rosters. On Tuesday, an exclusive signing window will open. Then there's the expansion draft, followed by a league-wide entry draft at the end of June. Gardner Morey isn't daunted — she's excited. "It's such a cool opportunity," she said Friday. "And I'm kind of chomping at the bit for June 4 when I can start making these calls and kind of talking to the players we're interested in bringing to our franchise." Building a professional women's hockey team is something Gardner Morey dreamt about when she was a player, first at Brown University, then in the National Women's Hockey League where she played with Jayna Hefford, now the PWHL's executive vice president of hockey operations. "We were just excited to be part of something where we didn't have to pay for hockey," Gardner Morey said. "And we've watched it over the years, and we've watched kind of professional hockey for women come and go and waiver. "Then when this league started, just the way that it was structured, the business model, the leadership in place, you could see very quickly that this was going to be a success. And I knew it was something I really wanted to be a part of. I just feel so grateful that I can help be a part of this growth. It's awesome." More than 200 people applied to be the new general manager in Vancouver, Hefford said. Another 200 vied for the same job in Seattle, home of the league's other expansion franchise. Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield hoists PWHL's Walter Cup 4 days ago Duration 1:21 Proven herself Gardner Morey was picked because she's proven herself during the 14 years she spent with Princeton's women's hockey team, Hefford added. During her eight years as head coach, Princeton won an Ivy League championship, qualified for two NCAA quarterfinals and set a single-season record for wins (26). She's also worked as an assistant coach for the Canadian women's U-18 team in 2016-17, and for Canada during the Rivalry series against the United States in February 2019. "She has built a program (at Princeton) that has competed at the highest level, proven herself to be a great recruiter in terms of some of the players she was able to bring into that program and the success they've had both there and coming out of that program," Hefford said. "And Cara just comes with such a passion and an energy for the game and the sport." While at Princeton, Gardner Morey coached both current Minnesota Frost defender Claire Thompson, a finalist for this year's PWHL's top defender award, and New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier, who's up for the top forward and rookie of the year awards. The decision to move from behind the bench to a front office was spurred by the 46-year-old Gardner Morey's passion for leadership and the feeling that the move made sense as the next step in her career. "I did have to think about it, because I'm leaving the coaching realm," she said. "But on some level, I think it's going to be nice to be able to watch the games from up top and not necessarily feel the stress of it on the bench in the moment. So it's something I'm really looking forward to." Now tasked with building a team from scratch, Gardner Morey is working to find players and staff who'll fit her vision for a speedy, skilled, physical team that has an amazing, competitive culture. There are ample candidates for the coaching staff, she said, and her mind long ago turned to plotting the perfect roster. "That's what's exciting about this position, right? Building your own team and this fantasy that you could almost choose anybody you want, which we know that's not quite the way it goes," Gardner Morey said. "But I started thinking about it as soon as I started exploring this position and was watching all the games. You're just watching like, `Ooh, who would be great in this spot?' And building rosters and building puzzle pieces and creating the culture is something I'm really, really excited about."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
French Open sexism scheduling row erupts as Ons Jabeur blasts lack of visibility given to women's tennis - as organisers defend men dominating prime-time night slot
The French Open has once again been gripped by a sexist scheduling row as Ons Jabeur hit out at the lack of visibility given to women's tennis at the event. Last year, every match chosen for the prime-time night session slot was a men's match - and the same again every day this year so far. Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo - ironically a former WTA star herself - remain utterly unapologetic about the lopsided scheduling. There is limited outcry among the players themselves, mostly because the night session is generally seen as an inconvenient time to compete. Four-time champion Iga Swiatek likes to play early in the day, so her attitude to the whole thing can be summed up as: I'm alright Jack. But Jabeur is one of the few to see the bigger picture: that women's tennis has to fight for greater visibility. You don't have to agree , just read with an open heart❤️ — Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) May 30, 2025 '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,' said the Tunisian earlier in the week. 'It's a bit ironic. They don't show women's sport, they don't show women's tennis, and then they say, 'Yeah, but mostly they watch men." 'Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together.' And on Friday she posted a long message on X: 'The women's game has been writing its own legacy loudly, brilliantly, and for far too long without full recognition.' In her mid-tournament press conference, Mauresmo was repeatedly taken to task over the lopsided scheduling. To sum up her position: when there is only one match in the night session, we will always go for a men's match because that guarantees the punters a minimum of three sets, rather than two. Why can't you have two matches, a men's and a women's? Because then the night session would finish too late. Why can't you start it earlier? Because people wouldn't be able to get there in time after leaving work, so the stands would be empty for the first match. It is not easy to argue with any of her reasoning, but that does not make the end result any less palatable.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Sha'Carri Richardson joins new women's track and field league as owner-advisor
Olympic gold medalalist Sha'Carri Richardson has joined the new, team-based women's track and field league Athlos as a founding owner-advisor. Fellow sprinter Gabby Thomas and long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall have also become owner-advisors of the league, set to launch next year after the World Athletics season. Athlos was started by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who also has ownership stakes in women's soccer teams Angel City and Chelsea and is married to tennis great Serena Williams. The first Athlos event took place last year in New York City and featured 35 athletes. The prize purse was $500,000, with 10% of the proceeds going to the athletes.
