French Open 2025: Organisers criticised for night session scheduling imbalance

When Britain’s Jack Draper faces Gael Monfils at the French Open on Thursday, it will once again highlight an eye-opening statistic.

Not since 2023 has a women’s singles match occupied the primetime night session slot on Court Philippe Chatrier – a run stretching to 19 successive matches.

In fact, since the tournament introduced night sessions in 2021, only four matches have been from the women’s draw.

It is a striking imbalance that hits the headlines year after year, and one which former world number two Ons Jabeur believes affects women’s sport as a whole.

“It’s unfortunate for women’s sports in general. Not for tennis, but in general,” said three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur following her first-round exit on Tuesday.

“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.

“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 [viewers] watch men. Of course they watch men more because you show men more. Everything goes together.”

The last women’s singles match to be played in the evening at Roland Garros was Aryna Sabalenka’s fourth-round win over Sloane Stephens two years ago.

When asked for a comment in response to Jabeur’s comments, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) did not provide one.

Instead it said tournament director Amelie Mauresmo would “talk about this topic shortly” with the former world number one expected to hold a news conference later this week.