French Open Director Defends Exclusion of Women’s Matches from Night Sessions

French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo has faced ongoing criticism for the exclusion of women's matches from the prestigious night sessions at Roland Garros, with none scheduled for the 2024 and 2025 tournaments. Mauresmo defended the scheduling policy, emphasizing that the decision is based on the men's best-of-five-set format, which typically offers longer matches and more value for spectators attending the night sessions, as opposed to the women's best-of-three sets. Despite this rationale, prominent WTA players like Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff have openly criticized the policy, with Jabeur calling it "a shame" and expressing frustration at the lack of prime-time exposure for women's tennis. Mauresmo rejected accusations that the policy implies women are "not worthy" of night matches, stating she would not accept such interpretations and that no current or former players have formally complained to her. The controversy highlights broader concerns about gender equity in tennis scheduling, with some arguing that the current approach harms the growth and visibility of women's tennis. This debate continues as the tournament maintains its current format, prioritizing men's matches in the night slots due to their potential for longer playtime and spectator appeal.