French Open organisers prefer men in the featured matches

PARIS – The president of France’s tennis federation has stepped on a land mine of the tournament’s own creation, by implying that the French Open is not placing women in the featured night session on the biggest court at Roland Garros because the men’s tournament offers “better matches”.

“The schedule is one key point on the tournament,” Gilles Moretton said on May 26. “Sometimes we have to think about what could be better for spectators. That’s why sometimes we have to make some choices.”

Moretton said he would not speak for Amelie Mauresmo, tournament director since 2021 and a former women’s world No. 1 player, who is ultimately responsible for the scheduling.

For several years, those choices have almost always resulted in a men’s singles match occupying the night slot on Philippe Chatrier Court, the main stadium. They have often resulted in women playing in the first two slots of the four available each day, at the start of play, when crowds are more sparse.

Since the French Open introduced the night session in 2021, organisers have reserved it almost entirely for men.

In 2022 and 2023, there were nine men’s matches and one women’s. In 2024, there were 11 men’s matches for the men at night and zero women’s.

Four-time champion Iga Swiatek of Poland and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine played a night match in 2021, but there were no spectators because of curfews across Paris associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Swiatek has preferred not to weigh in on the issue, in part because she likes playing in the day.

“I like playing days, so I’m happy that I’m done and I can have a longer rest,” the Pole said.

“But on the other hand, people just try to look for, like, not even things between men and women.